The son of Thomas, first baron Bolton; he was educated at King's College, Cambridge, and was Tory MP for Yarmouth (1808); in 1810 he married Maria Carleton, daughter of General Guy Carleton, first Baron Dorchester.

REFERENCES TO William Orde-Powlett, second baron Bolton:

Lord Dudley to Samuel Rogers, 25 December 1825 in Samuel Rogers and his Contemporaries 2 Vols (London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1889)