Jersey was the son of
Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey, and his wife
Barbara, daughter of
William Chiffinch. Jersey was educated at
Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating in 1700, before travelling in France where his father was ambassador in Paris. Despite being underage, on his return to England, he was appointed to the
sinecure office of
Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer. He represented
Kent in the
House of Commons from 1705 to 1708. He was classed as a "churchman" and a Tory on two lists of the House early in 1708. In August 1707, a county meeting attempted to have Jersey replaced by
Percival Hart as a
member of parliament for Kent, and Jersey opted to not contest the
1708 British general election. From this marriage he received a large dowry, rumored to be worth up to £40,000. They had three children: • Barbara Villiers (25 August 1706 – d. 1761), married firstly,
Sir William Blackett, 2nd Baronet. She married secondly,
Bussy Mansell, 4th Baron Mansell. •
William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey (8 March 1707 – d. 1769). Through William, the 3rd Earl, they are ancestors of
Diana, Princess of Wales, and of her sons,
William, Prince of Wales, and
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. •
Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon (19 June 1709 – d. 1786) ==References==