Sir Charles Wheler, 2nd Baronet (
c. 1620–1683) of Birdingbury, Warwickshire, was an English cavalry officer who served in the English and Spanish armies. In 1667 he was elected a Member of Parliament for the constituency of
Cambridge University.[1][a]
Early life
Charles Wheler was born around 1620, the only son of William Wheler, of Martin Husingtree,
Worcestershire, and
Nantwich,
Cheshire, and his wife Eleanor (died 1 June 1678, aged 85), daughter of Edward Polkston, of Allington, county
Denbigh, and Winifred, only sister of Sir
Thomas Trevor (1586–1656).[2][3][b]
Wheler was a student at Cambridge in 1638, and sometime Fellow of
Trinity College, Cambridge, being ejected thence 18 April 1644. He was M.A. of that university, and was entrusted with others to carry the university plate to Charles I to help finance the Royalist cause at the start of the
English Civil War.[2]
Civil War and Interregnum
Wheler served as a major in a Royalist Horse (cavalry) regiment from very early in the Civil War until 1644 when he transferred to a regiment of foot in which he served until early in 1646 when he surrendered to Parliament and was allowed to go into exile. In 1656 he was commissioned into King Charles II's Guards—then a regiment in the Spanish army—as a captain, his regiment fought under Tunney at the
Battle of the Dunes (1658).[1][4]
Restoration
He was a
Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, 1660 (probably until 1679), and apparently by then a knight. He was a captain in the
1st Foot Guards ( 1661–1672), the Duke of Richmond's Horse 1666 and Prince Rupert's Horse 1667. He was M.P. for the
University of Cambridge (1667–1679) and Governor of the Leeward Islands 1671–1672). In 1678-1679 he was colonel of a regiment (which would later become the
7th Regiment of Foot).[2][5][1]
Wheler succeeded to the
Wheler baronetcy on the death of his first cousin
Sir William Wheler, 1st Baronet on 6 August 1666, under the special clause of remainder, but to none of the grantee's estates.[c] On the death without children on 5 February 1676, of his mother's first cousin,
Sir Thomas Trevor, 1st Baronet, Sir Charles inherited his estate in
Leamington Hastings, Warwickshire. He died on 26 August 1683, and was buried at Leamington Hastings, aged 64.[d] He was succeeded by
Sir William Wheler, 3rd Baronet (1654–1709 his eldest surviving son.[5]
Trevor, the eldest son, became a major in his father's regiment of foot, and died on 12 October 1678, within the lifetime of his father.[3]
William,[3] the surviving son and heir. he married Teresa, daughter of the Hon. Edward Widdrington (second son of
William, 1st Lord Widdrington), with whom he had four sons and five daughters.[5]
Sir
Francis Wheler, became an admiral in the Royal Navy and was knighted. He married Arabella, daughter of Sir
Clifford Clifton, of Clifton, in
Nottinghamshire, with whom he had children. He drowned when his ship was wrecked on the rocks of
Scilly.[6]
and two daughters:
Cicely, the wife of —— Blount, of ——, in
Shropshire.[5]
^Charles Wheler and
Sir William Wheler, 1st Baronet were both grandsons of George Wheler, of Martin Hussingtree, in Worcestershire and Elizabeth, daughter of J. Arnold (or Hernold), of Higham, in Gloucestershire. Charles Wheler was the son of William (George and Elizabeth's eldest son), while Sir William was the son of John (George and Elizabeth's second son). This made Charles Wheler and Sir William first cousins (
Betham 1801, pp. 159–160).
^Sir William and Charles Wheler had fallen out, apparently over Charles urging Sir William to execute a settlement of his estates upon Charles, so instead of doing what Charles wanted, Sir William left the bulk of is estate to others and Charles only received an annual stipend of £120 (
Ferris 1983).
^His will was dated 7 to 12 March 1683 and was proved 8 September 1683.[2]
^Cecilia was buried at Leamington Hastings close to her husband.[2]
Webb, Stephen Saunders (1979), The Governors-General: the English Army and the definition of the Empire, 1569-1681 (illustrated ed.), Williamsburg, Virginia: Institute of Early American History and Culture, p.
125
Weeler, George (1911), Wheler, Edward Galton (ed.), Autobiography of Sir George Wheler. Edited, with notes, appendices, and genealogies by E.G. Wheler, Birmingham: Pp. vi. 48. Cornish Bros [Genealogist series: [N.S., vol. ii, 202, and vol. iii, 41 and 216]