Charles Powlett, 5th Duke of Bolton

Charles Powlett, 5th Duke of Bolton, KCB, PC (c. 1718 – 5 July 1765), styled Marquess of Winchester from 1754 to 1759, was a British soldier, nobleman and Whig politician. He was the eldest son of Harry Powlett, 4th Duke of Bolton and Catherine Parry.

Educated at Winchester, he joined the British Army and became a lieutenant-colonel in 1745. Powlett was a Groom of the Bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales from 1749 until the Prince's death in 1751. He had been promoted lieutenant general by 12 March 1752, when he was made a KCB. Upon the succession of his father to the Dukedom in December 1754, he became known as Marquess of Winchester, and he left his seat at Lymington to succeed his father in Hampshire. He would remain member for that county until his accession as Duke of Bolton in 1759. On 22 December 1758, he was sworn of the Privy Council.

On 5 July 1765, Bolton committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a pistol in his house in Grosvenor Square; "nobody knows why or wherefore," wrote Horace Walpole, "except that there is a good deal of madness in the blood". He left most of his fortune to his illegitimate daughter, Jean Mary Browne-Powlett (c.1751–1814), who married Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton. He was succeeded to the Dukedom by his brother Harry.