Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
Encyclopedia
Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton KG PC (25 October 1683 – 6 May 1757) was an Irish
and English
politician
.
He was born the only child of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
and Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington. His father was an illegitimate son of Charles II of England
and Barbara Villiers, 1st Duchess of Cleveland.
Fitzroy inherited his father's peerages on 9 October 1690. He was Lord High Steward
at King George I's coronation
. He became a Privy Counsellor
in 1715 and a Knight of the Garter
in 1721. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
from 1720 to 1724 and Lord Chamberlain
from 1724 until his death. In 1719 he was one of main subscribers in the Royal Academy of Music (1719), a corporation that produced baroque opera on stage. In 1739 he supported the creation of what was to become one of London's most notable charities, the Foundling Hospital
. He sat on that charity's original Court of Governors with such fellow Governors as the Duke of Bedford
, the Lord Vere
and the Lord Mayor of London.
He married Lady Henrietta Somerset, daughter of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester
and Rebecca Child; they had seven children:
Cork, 3rd Earl of Burlington
and his wife Lady Dorothy Savile, daughter of William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax
. The Earl was notorious for mistreating his wife, who died seven months after their marriage, and died childless.
The Duke also fathered an illegitimate son, Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
He was born the only child of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton KG was the illegitimate son of King Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine....
and Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington. His father was an illegitimate son of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and Barbara Villiers, 1st Duchess of Cleveland.
Fitzroy inherited his father's peerages on 9 October 1690. He was Lord High Steward
Lord High Steward
The position of Lord High Steward of England is the first of the Great Officers of State. The office has generally remained vacant since 1421, except at coronations and during the trials of peers in the House of Lords, when the Lord High Steward presides. In general, but not invariably, the Lord...
at King George I's coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
. He became a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1715 and a Knight of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
in 1721. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
from 1720 to 1724 and Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
from 1724 until his death. In 1719 he was one of main subscribers in the Royal Academy of Music (1719), a corporation that produced baroque opera on stage. In 1739 he supported the creation of what was to become one of London's most notable charities, the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
. He sat on that charity's original Court of Governors with such fellow Governors as the Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, FRS was an 18th century British statesman. He was the fourth son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Howland of Streatham, Surrey...
, the Lord Vere
Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere of Hanworth
Admiral Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere , known as Lord Vere Beauclerk until 1750, was a British peer and politician, a son of the 1st Duke of St Albans and a grandson of King Charles II....
and the Lord Mayor of London.
He married Lady Henrietta Somerset, daughter of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester
Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester
Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester was the eldest son of a peer in the peerage of England and an MP.-Private Life:...
and Rebecca Child; they had seven children:
- Charles Henry FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (13 April 1714 – 18 December 1715).
- George FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (24 August 1715 – 7 July 1747). He was married 10 October 1741 to Lady Dorothy Boyle (14 May 1724 – 2 May 1742) elder daughter of Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of
Cork, 3rd Earl of Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and 4th Earl of Cork PC , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son of Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington and 3rd Earl of Cork...
and his wife Lady Dorothy Savile, daughter of William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax
William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax
William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax was the son of George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax and Dorothy Savile, Viscountess Halifax . He was educated in Geneva in 1677 and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1681, but did not take a degree. He travelled on the continent in 1684–1687,...
. The Earl was notorious for mistreating his wife, who died seven months after their marriage, and died childless.
- Lord Augustus FitzRoy (16 October 1716 – 24 May 1741). He was married to Elizabeth Cosby, daughter of Colonel William Cosby who served as a colonial Governor of New YorkGovernor of New YorkThe Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
. They were parents to two sons, who founded branches still extant today.- Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of GraftonAugustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of GraftonAugustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC , styled Earl of Euston between 1747 and 1757, was a British Whig statesman of the Georgian era...
and - Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron SouthamptonCharles FitzRoy, 1st Baron SouthamptonCharles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton was a British statesman and soldier.The second son of Lord Augustus FitzRoy and a grandson of the 2nd Duke of Grafton, FitzRoy joined the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards as an ensign in 1752...
.
- Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton
- Lord Charles FitzRoy (23 April 1718 – 29 July 1739).
- Lady Caroline Fitzroy (8 April 1722 – 26 June 1784). She married William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of HarringtonWilliam Stanhope, 2nd Earl of HarringtonGeneral William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington was a British politician and soldier.The son of William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington, he took up a military career and joined the Foot Guards in 1741, and was also returned for Aylesbury...
. They were parents to Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of HarringtonCharles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of HarringtonGeneral Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington PC, PC , styled Viscount Petersham until 1779, was a British soldier. Stanhope is sometimes confused with an exact contemporary of his, the 3rd Earl Stanhope....
and other six children. - Lady Harriet FitzRoy (8 June 1723 – August 1735).
- Lady Isabella FitzRoy (1726 – 10 November 1782). She married Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of HertfordFrancis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of HertfordFrancis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford KG, PC, PC was a British courtier and politician.He was born in Chelsea, London the son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Lord Conway and Charlotte Shorter and died in Surrey, England...
. They were parents to Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of HertfordFrancis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of HertfordFrancis Ingram-Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford KG, PC , styled The Honourable Francis Seymour-Conway until 1750, Viscount Beauchamp between 1750 and 1793 and Earl of Yarmouth between 1793 and 1794, was a British peer and politician.-Background and education:A member of the Seymour family...
and other eleven children. They were ancestors of Diana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
The Duke also fathered an illegitimate son, Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore
Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore
Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore was a British politician.Born Charles FitzRoy, he was the illegitimate son of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton. Fitzroy married Frances Scudamore after her divorce from Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort in 1744...
.