SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SOCIETY. 41 
The memoir, relating to the first president of the Society, which 
immediately follows is from tlie pen of the Rev. Alfred Gatty, M.A., 
vicar of Ecclesfield, whose works on archaeological and topographical 
subjects are well known and appreciated. 
Earl Fitzwilliam, K.G., First President. 
Charles William "Wentworth, fifth Earl Fitzwilliam, was born in 
Grosvenor Square, on 4th May, 1786, and was the only child of 
AVilliam, the fourth Earl, his mother being Lady Charlotte Ponsonby, 
second daughter of the Earl of Bessborough. 
It is somewhat remarkable, that amongst all the fine portraits, 
old and modern, which grace the walls of the grand mansion at Went- 
worth, there is no likeness in mature life of the distinguished noble- 
man, who is the subject of this brief memoir. There is the lovely 
picture ol a child, standing with a lamb by his side, which was 
painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. This is hung over the fireplace in 
the state drawing-room, and represents the late Earl, when about six 
years old. When he was sixteen he was painted by Hopner, and the 
likeness is at Wentworth. Of course he was subjected to the ordi- 
nary education becoming his station, and at Eton his likeness was 
added to the head-master's collection of portraits of distinguished 
sixth form boys. He did not graduate at either university ; for into 
both domestic and public life he entered, at a very early age. He 
had married, and become a member of the House of Commons, as 
Lord Milton (his father being still alive), before he had attained his 
majority. He married an honourable lady, Mary Dundas, fourth 
daughter of Thomas, first Lord Dundas, on 8tli July, 1806 ; and it 
vfas in the following year that he offered himself as a candidate to 
represent in Parliament the undivided county of York, in the Whig 
interest, in opposition to the Honourable H. Lascelles, who was a 
Tory ; and a more memorable contest was never fought by political 
rivals to secure the coveted prize. 
The county returned two members, and the three competitors 
were Mr. Wilberforce, the Hon. H. Lascelles, and Lord Milton ; and 
VVilberforce being the people's favourite, and a native of Hull, polled 
11,808 votes, his expenses being chiefly defrayed by public subscrip- 
