William Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford
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William Henry Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford (1717 – 28 September 1781), was a British diplomat and statesman. Having gained experience as envoy at Turin from 1749 to 1753, he was ambassador at Madrid from 1763 to 1766 and at Paris from 1766 to 1768. From 1768 to 1775 he was Secretary of State successively for the Northern and Southern Departments. He died childless and was succeeded in his peerage titles by his nephew, the 5th Earl.
William Henry Nassau de Zuylestein has the dubious honor of being the casting vote in the British parliament when the bill to rescind the "obnoxious" American taxes was voted upon. He voted against the motion, setting the stage for the American Revolutionary War.
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| Honorary Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Earl Fitzwalter |
Lord Lieutenant of Essex 1756–1781 |
Succeeded by The Earl Waldegrave |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of Richmond |
British Ambassador to France 1766–1768 |
Succeeded by The Earl Harcourt |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Viscount Weymouth |
Secretary of State for the Northern Department 1768–1770 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Sandwich |
| Preceded by The Viscount Weymouth |
Secretary of State for the Southern Department 1770–1775 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Weymouth |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein |
Earl of Rochford 1738–1781 |
Succeeded by William Nassau de Zuylestein |
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