Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis

Cornwallis was the only son of General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, by his wife Jemima (née Jones). His mother died when he was four years old.^[1] He was educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge, receiving his M.A. in 1795.^[2]

In 1795 Cornwallis was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for Eye (alongside his uncle William Cornwallis), a seat he held until 1796.^[3] He then sat as a Knight of the Shire for Suffolk until 1805,^[4] when he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords.^[1] In 1807 he was appointed Master of the Buckhounds, a post he held until his death fourteen years later.^[5]

On 26 May 1803 he was appointed Colonel of the East Suffolk Militia, and continued in command until his death.^[6][7]

Lord Cornwallis married Lady Louisa Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, in 1797. They had five daughters, including Lady Jane Cornwallis, wife of Richard Griffin, 3rd Baron Braybrooke, and Lady Jemima Cornwallis, wife of Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans. He died in August 1823, aged 48. The marquessate became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in his remaining titles by his uncle, the Right Reverend James Cornwallis.^[1]