WHARTON (FAMILY). The Whartons of Wharton were an old north of England family, and in 1543 THOMAS WHARTON (1495-1568) was created a baron. The fifth baron, THOMAS WHARTON (1648-1715), was created in 1706 earl and in 1714 marquess of Wharton. The 1st marquess is famous as the author of the political ballad, Lilliburlero, which "sang James II. out of three kingdoms." Wharton was lord-lieutenant of Ireland in Anne's reign,-and incurred the wrath of Swift, who attacked him as Verres in the Examiner (No. 14), and drew a separate "char acter" of him, which is one of Swift's masterpieces. Addison dedicated to him the fifth volume of the Spectator, giving him a very different "character" from Swift's. His first wife, ANNA WHARTON (1632-1685), was an authoress, whose poems, including an Elegy on Lord Rochester, were celebrated by Walter and Dry den. His son, PHILIP WHARTON (1698-1731), duke of Wharton,
succeeded to his father's marquessate and fortune, and in 1718 was created a duke. But he earned for himself, by his profligacy and reckless playing at politics, Pope's satire of him as "the scorn and wonder of our days" (Moral Essays, i. 179). After spending his large estates he went abroad and gave eccentric support to the Old Pretender. He was outlawed in 1729, and at his death the titles became extinct.