William Whitmore was born in Gloucestershire on 14 May 1714. His father was William Whitmore MP of Lower Slaughter Manor, Gloucestershire, and Apley, Shropshire. His mother was Elizabeth Pope. He raised the 53rd Regiment of Foot in 1755 which later became the Shropshire Regiment and in 1881 the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The regiment was sent out to Gibraltar soon after it was raised and stayed there until 1763. But Colonel Whitmore exchanged to the 9th Foot on 23 Oct 1758. He was MP for Bridgnorth from 1741 to 1747 and from 1754 to 1771. He also held the post of Warden of the Mint from 1766 until 1771. Although he was not married he had a son, George, who died in 1794, and two daughters. He reached the rank of lieutenant-general and died on 22 July 1771.
