The arms are those of John, 2nd Duke of Rutland, born in 1676, who succeeded to the dukedom in 1710. He married as his first wife, in 1693, Catherine, sister of Wriothesley, 2nd Duke of Bedford and daughter of William, Lord Russell who had been beheaded in 1683. She died in childbirth October 30, 1711. The Duke married, secondly, on January 1, 1712/3 Lucy, daughter of Bennet, 2nd Lord Sherard. In politics the Duke was a Whig and before his succession he had sat as M.P. for Derbyshire, Worcestershire and for Grantham. Lady Strafford writes on February 17, 1713 "I can tell you the reason the Duchess of Rutland did not goe to court on the Birthday; the Duke is soe great a Whigg that he did not care she should go" (The Wentworth Papers, p. 319). The Duke died in 1720 of smallpox, aged 44.