William Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave

Waldegrave was the eldest son of William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton, eldest son of Vice-Admiral William Waldegrave, 8th Earl Waldegrave. His mother was Frances, daughter of Captain John Bastard. He gained the courtesy title Viscount Chewton in 1854 on the early death of his father. In 1859, aged eight, he succeeded his grandfather in the earldom.[1] He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.[2]

Waldegrave was commissioned into the 3rd Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1869. He was promoted lieutenant in 1870 and resigned his commission as a captain in 1872. He was commissioned an ensign in the 1st London Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1873 and was promoted lieutenant and captain in 1874 and major in 1886. He retired as a lieutenant-colonel.

Lord Waldegrave sat on the Conservative in the House of Lords. He was a Lord-in-waiting under Lord Salisbury from 1886[3] to 1892[4] and again from 1895[5] to 1896.[6]

After the death of Lord Limerick in August 1896, he was promoted to Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard and Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords.[7] He continued in these posts until 1905, the last three years under the premiership of Arthur Balfour.[8] He remained as Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords until 1911.

In 1897 he was sworn of the Privy Council.[9] Waldegrave was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Somerset on 25 January 1911.[10]

Lord Waldegrave married his first cousin, Lady Mary Dorothea Palmer, daughter of Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne, on 5 August 1874. He died in August 1930, aged 79, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William. The Countess Waldegrave died in November 1933.[1]