DERWENTWATER, JAMES, Earl of, one of the leaders in the rebellion of 1715, and the last earl of D., was the descendant of an ancient Northumberland family named 'Radcliffe. He was b. in 1688, educated in France, and on the death of his father in 1703, D., then in his 17th year, returned to the scat of his ancestors at Dilston, in Northumberland, and assumed the paternal titles and estates. On the eve of the insur rection, at the close of 1714, warrants were issued on suspicion against several gentle men in the n. of England, and one, among others, against the earl of D.; but having been previously warned, he fled from Dilston, and found refuge in the cottage of one of his dependents. He soon afterwards collected a few retainers, and placed himself at their head, under the impression that the entire body of the Jacobites either had risen or were about to rise. From this period the history of the earl of D. becomes the history of the rebellion of 1715, which ended in the disastrous encounter at Preston, on which occasion D. conducted himself with the utmost heroism, but, with the most of the rebel
leaders, was taken prisoner, and conveyed to the tower of London. Havirig been impeached of high treason at the opening of parliament, he was carried 14efore the house of lords, Feb. 0, 1716, and, requesting time to prepare an answer to his accusation, was remitted till the 19th, when, being taken for trial to Westminster hall, he pleaded guilty,• and threw himself upon the mercy of the king. His appeal was unavailing, and he was condemned to suffer. Every possible effort was made by the relations and friends of D. to obtain a pardon, but their exertions were fruitless, and he was beheaded on Tower hill, 24th Feb., 1719. His youth, his invariable amiability of temper, his rank, and his bravery,,,combined to excite great sympathy for the unhappy sufferer.