William Amherst, 2nd Earl Amherst

William Pitt Amherst, 2nd Earl Amherst (3 September 1805 – 26 March 1886), styled Viscount Holmesdale between 1826 and 1857, was a British peer.

Amherst was born at Lower Grosvenor Street, London, the son of William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst, by his first wife the Honourable Sarah, daughter of Andrew Archer, 2nd Baron Archer. He was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford. He became known by the courtesy title Viscount Holmesdale when his father was elevated to an earldom in 1826. In 1826 he was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for East Grinstead, a seat he held until 1832, when the constituency was abolished through the Great Reform Act. He never returned to the House of Commons. In 1857 he succeeded his father in the earldom and took his seat in the House of Lords.

Lord Amherst married Gertrude, daughter of the Right Reverend Hugh Percy, in 1834. They had six sons and five daughters, including William Amherst and Josceline Amherst. He died at Montreal Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, in March 1886, aged 80, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William. The Countess Amherst died at Rutland Gate, London, in April 1890, aged 75.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr William Amherst

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lord Strathavon Hon. Charles Jenkinson	Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1829–1832 With: Lord Strathavon 1829–1830 Frederick Richard West 1830–1832	Constituency abolished
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by William Pitt Amherst	Earl Amherst 1857–1886	Succeeded by William Archer Amherst