Philip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke, facing right in gold-edged red cloak, gold-embroidered grey waistcoat and knotted white lace cravat, decorated with a gold star attached on a mauve ribbon at his waistcoat, full bottomed wig

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke (1690-1764), son of Philip Yorke and Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Richard Gibbon of Dover, worked in the office of a London solicitor and was called to the bar on 27 May 1715. He was elected M.P. for Seaford in 1719 and married Margaret, daughter of Charles Cocks of Worcester and widow of John Lygon. He was appointed attorney-general in 1724, chief-justice and created Baron Hardwicke in 1733. He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1737 and presided as lord high steward at the trails of rebel lords in 1745. Hardwicke was responsible for the anti-Jacobite legislation of 1753 and was created Earl of Hardwicke and Viscount Royston in 1754. He resigned his offices in 1756 and died after a long illness.