Final answer:
The 2nd Earl of Rochester was John Wilmot, an English poet and courtier of the Restoration period, not associated with the American historical figures listed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked who was the 2nd Earl of Rochester. The correct answer is John Wilmot. None of the individuals listed in the provided information, such as William Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and others, were associated with this title. John Wilmot was a notable English poet and courtier of King Charles II's time, famed for his libertine lifestyle and his witty and satirical verse. The title of the 2nd Earl of Rochester was one of nobility in England, quite separate from the political and literary figures of America, such as those mentioned in the reference information.