Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Encyclopedia
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG
, PC (9 December 1764 – 28 August 1819) was a British
soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America
.
, near Fochabers
, Scotland
, the son of General Lord George Lennox
, the younger son of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
. His mother was Lady Louisa, daughter of William Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian
.
er. He was an accomplished right-hand bat and a noted wicket-keeper
. An amateur
, he was a founder member of the Marylebone Cricket Club
. In 1786, together with the Earl of Winchilsea
, Richmond offered Thomas Lord
a guarantee against any losses Lord might suffer on starting a new cricket
ground. This led to Lord opening his first cricket ground in 1787. Although Lord's Cricket Ground
has since moved twice, Lennox' and Winchilsea's guarantee provided the genesis of the best-known cricket ground in the world, a ground known as the Home of Cricket. Nearly always listed as the Hon. Colonel Charles Lennox in contemporary scorecards, Lennox had 55 recorded first-class appearances from 1784 to 1800 and played a few more games after that.
captain in at the age of 23 in 1787. On 17 May 1789, while a colonel in the Duke of York's regiment, he was involved in a duel
with Frederick, Duke of York, who had expressed the opinion that "Colonel Lennox had heard words spoken to him at Daughbigny's, to which no gentleman ought to have submitted", effectively an accusation of failing to respond to an insult in the way that a gentleman should. At Wimbledon Common, Lennox fired, but his ball "grazed his Royal Highness's curl"; the Duke did not fire. Colonel Lennox shortly after exchanged his company for the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel in the 35th Regiment of Foot. On July 1 of the same year, he was involved in another duel, with Theophilus Swift, Esq., in consequence of a pamphlet criticising Lennox's character published under Swift's name. They met in a field near the Uxbridge Road, where Swift was wounded in the body, but recovered. Later in the year he married Lady Charlotte Gordon, daughter of the 4th Duke of Gordon
. In 1794 and 1795 he participated in naval engagements against the French
in the West Indies and Gibraltar
, but was sent home when he came into conflict with his superiors. He was also MP for Sussex
, succeeding his father, from 1790 until he succeeded to the dukedom.
. In April 1807 he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He remained in that post until 1813, with Arthur Wellesley (the later Duke of Wellington
) as his secretary. He participated in the Napoleonic Wars
and in 1815 he was in command of a reserve force in Brussels
, which was protecting that city in case Napoleon won the Battle of Waterloo
. On 15 June, the night before the Battle of Quatre Bras
, his wife held a ball
for his fellow officers. Although he observed the battle the next day, as well as Waterloo on 18 June, he did not participate in either.
of Upper Canada
. While visiting the territory in 1819, he was bitten by a pet fox
, and died of rabies
on 28 August of that year. The night before his death, he slept at the "Masonic Arms" a tavern in Richmond, Ontario owned by Andrew Hill (former Sgt. Maj. of the 100th Regiment of Foot) and Maria Hill, his wife and heroine of the War of 1812. After the Duke of Richmond’s death, Maria prepared his body to be sent back to Quebec City for burial and Hill’s tavern was renamed the ‘Duke of Richmond Arms’ to commemorate the visit. Lennox's title was inherited by his son, Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
. Lennox was given a state funeral in Quebec City
, and he is buried in the city's Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral.
, Richmond, Quebec
, and Richmond County, Nova Scotia
, along with Richmond Street in Toronto, Ontario were named after him. According to tradition, the town of Richmond Hill, Ontario
, was also named after him, as he was said to have passed through the then village during his visit in 1819.
Richmond had fourteen children:
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...
, PC (9 December 1764 – 28 August 1819) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
.
Background
Richmond was born at Gordon CastleGordon Castle
Gordon Castle is located in Gight, near Fochabers in Moray, Scotland. Historically known as the Bog-of-Gight, it was the principal seat of the Dukes of Gordon...
, near Fochabers
Fochabers
Fochabers is a village in the Parish of Bellie, in Moray, Scotland, not far from the cathedral city of Elgin and located on the east bank of the River Spey. Around 2,000 people live in the village, which enjoys a rich musical and cultural history...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of General Lord George Lennox
Lord George Lennox
General Lord George Henry Lennox was the second son of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, and was thus descended from King Charles II of England. He was a brother of the famous Lennox sisters.-Military career:...
, the younger son of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
The 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...
. His mother was Lady Louisa, daughter of William Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian
William Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian
General William Henry Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian KT was a Scottish nobleman, soldier and politician, the eldest son of William Kerr, 3rd Marquess of Lothian. He was styled Master of Jedburgh until 1722, Lord Jedburgh from 1722 to 1735, and Earl of Ancram from 1735 to 1767...
.
Cricket
Richmond was a keen cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He was an accomplished right-hand bat and a noted wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
. An amateur
Amateur status in first-class cricket
Amateur status in first-class cricket had a special meaning, especially in England, in that the amateur in this context was not merely someone who played cricket in his spare time but a particular type of first-class cricketer who existed officially until 1962, when the distinction between amateurs...
, he was a founder member of the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. In 1786, together with the Earl of Winchilsea
George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea KG PC FRS was an important figure in the history of cricket. His main contributions to the game were patronage and organisation but Winchilsea, an amateur, was also a very keen player....
, Richmond offered Thomas Lord
Thomas Lord
Thomas Lord was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1787 to 1802. He made a brief comeback, playing in one further match in 1815. Overall, Lord made 90 known appearances in first-class cricket...
a guarantee against any losses Lord might suffer on starting a new cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
ground. This led to Lord opening his first cricket ground in 1787. Although Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
has since moved twice, Lennox' and Winchilsea's guarantee provided the genesis of the best-known cricket ground in the world, a ground known as the Home of Cricket. Nearly always listed as the Hon. Colonel Charles Lennox in contemporary scorecards, Lennox had 55 recorded first-class appearances from 1784 to 1800 and played a few more games after that.
Army general
Richmond became a British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
captain in at the age of 23 in 1787. On 17 May 1789, while a colonel in the Duke of York's regiment, he was involved in a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
with Frederick, Duke of York, who had expressed the opinion that "Colonel Lennox had heard words spoken to him at Daughbigny's, to which no gentleman ought to have submitted", effectively an accusation of failing to respond to an insult in the way that a gentleman should. At Wimbledon Common, Lennox fired, but his ball "grazed his Royal Highness's curl"; the Duke did not fire. Colonel Lennox shortly after exchanged his company for the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel in the 35th Regiment of Foot. On July 1 of the same year, he was involved in another duel, with Theophilus Swift, Esq., in consequence of a pamphlet criticising Lennox's character published under Swift's name. They met in a field near the Uxbridge Road, where Swift was wounded in the body, but recovered. Later in the year he married Lady Charlotte Gordon, daughter of the 4th Duke of Gordon
Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon
Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon KT , styled Marquess of Huntly until 1752, was a Scottish nobleman, described by Kaimes as the "greatest subject in Britain", and was also known as the Cock o' the North, the traditional epithet attached to the chief of the Gordon clan.-Early life:Alexander...
. In 1794 and 1795 he participated in naval engagements against the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the West Indies and Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, but was sent home when he came into conflict with his superiors. He was also MP for Sussex
Sussex (UK Parliament constituency)
Sussex was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, succeeding his father, from 1790 until he succeeded to the dukedom.
Duke
He became the 4th Duke of Richmond on 29 December 1806, after the death of his uncle, Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of RichmondCharles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond
Field Marshal Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox, 3rd Duke of Aubigny, KG, PC, FRS , styled Earl of March until 1750, was a British politician and office holder noteworthy for his advanced views on the issue of parliamentary reform...
. In April 1807 he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He remained in that post until 1813, with Arthur Wellesley (the later Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
) as his secretary. He participated in the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and in 1815 he was in command of a reserve force in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, which was protecting that city in case Napoleon won the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. On 15 June, the night before the Battle of Quatre Bras
Battle of Quatre Bras
The Battle of Quatre Bras, between Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army and the left wing of the Armée du Nord under Marshal Michel Ney, was fought near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815.- Prelude :...
, his wife held a ball
Duchess of Richmond's ball
The Duchess of Richmond's ball was held in Brussels on 15 June 1815, the night before the Battle of Quatre Bras. The Duchess's husband Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond was in command of a reserve force in Brussels, which was protecting that city in case Napoleon Bonaparte invaded.Elizabeth...
for his fellow officers. Although he observed the battle the next day, as well as Waterloo on 18 June, he did not participate in either.
Governor General of Canada
In 1818 he was appointed Governor GeneralGovernor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
of Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. While visiting the territory in 1819, he was bitten by a pet fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, and died of rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
on 28 August of that year. The night before his death, he slept at the "Masonic Arms" a tavern in Richmond, Ontario owned by Andrew Hill (former Sgt. Maj. of the 100th Regiment of Foot) and Maria Hill, his wife and heroine of the War of 1812. After the Duke of Richmond’s death, Maria prepared his body to be sent back to Quebec City for burial and Hill’s tavern was renamed the ‘Duke of Richmond Arms’ to commemorate the visit. Lennox's title was inherited by his son, Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and 5th Duke of Lennox KG, PC , styled Earl of March until in 1819, was a British soldier, politician and a prominent Conservative.-Background and education:...
. Lennox was given a state funeral in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, and he is buried in the city's Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Legacy
The towns of Richmond, OntarioRichmond, Ontario
Richmond is a Canadian village. Founded in 1818, it spans the Jock River, a tributary of the Rideau River. Like many communities in eastern Ontario, Richmond houses several unique populations. Some residents have historic and economic roots in the immediate area. Richmond operates as a small core...
, Richmond, Quebec
Richmond, Quebec
Richmond, population 3,336 , is a town nestled amidst rolling farmlands on the Saint-François River between Sherbrooke and Drummondville, in the heart of Estrie in Quebec, Canada.-Richmond today:...
, and Richmond County, Nova Scotia
Richmond County, Nova Scotia
Richmond County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:Named in honour of Sir Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond and Lennox, who was Governor General of British North America 1818-1819, Richmond County was created in 1835....
, along with Richmond Street in Toronto, Ontario were named after him. According to tradition, the town of Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, was also named after him, as he was said to have passed through the then village during his visit in 1819.
Ancestry
Issue
- Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of RichmondCharles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of RichmondCharles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and 5th Duke of Lennox KG, PC , styled Earl of March until in 1819, was a British soldier, politician and a prominent Conservative.-Background and education:...
(1791–1860). - Lady Mary Lennox (c. 1792 – 7 December 1847), married Sir Charles Fitzroy and had issue.
- Lt.-Col. Lord John George LennoxLord John LennoxLieutenant-Colonel Lord John George Lennox , was a British soldier and Whig politician.-Background:Lennox was the second son of Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, and Lady Charlotte, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon.Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond, was his elder...
(3 October 1793 – 10 November 1873), married Louisa Rodney and had issue. - Lady Sarah Lennox (c. 1794 – 8 September 1873), married Peregrine MaitlandPeregrine MaitlandSir Peregrine Maitland, KCB, GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator who played first-class cricket from 1798 to 1808....
. - Lady Georgiana Lennox (30 September 1795 – 15 December 1891), married William FitzGerald-de Ros, 23rd Baron de RosWilliam FitzGerald-de Ros, 23rd Baron de RosGeneral William Lennox Lascelles FitzGerald-de Ros, 23rd Baron de Ros of Helmsley, PC, DL , was a British soldier and Conservative politician...
, and had issue. - Lord Henry Adam Lennox (6 September 1797 – 1812), fell overboard from HMS BlakeHMS Blake (1808)HMS Blake was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 23 August 1808 at Deptford and named in honour of Admiral Robert Blake.From 1814 she served as a prison ship, and in 1816 Blake was sold out of the navy....
and drowned. - Lord William Pitt LennoxLord William Pitt LennoxLord William Pitt Lennox was a British army officer and writer.-Life:Lennox, fourth son of Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, was born at Winestead Hall, Yorkshire, 20 Sept. 1799, and was a godson of William Pitt and a cousin of Charles James Fox...
(20 September 1799 – 18 February 1881), married first Mary Anne Paton and second Ellen Smith; had issue by the latter. - Lady Jane Lennox (c. 1800 – 27 March 1861), married Laurence Peel and had issue.
- Captain Lord Frederick Lennox (24 January 1801 – 25 October 1829).
- Lord Sussex Lennox (11 June 1802 – 12 April 1874), married Hon. Mary Lawless and had issue.
- Lady Louisa Maddelena Lennox (2 October 1803 – 2 March 1900), married Rt. Hon. William Tighe, died without issue.
- Lady Charlotte Lennox (c. 1804 – 20 August 1833), married Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge of BristolMaurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardingeAdmiral Sir Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge, GCB PC, DL was a British Royal Navy First Sea Lord and former First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria.-Royal Navy career:...
, and had issue. - Lt.-Col. Lord Arthur Lennox (2 October 1806 – 15 January 1864), married Adelaide Campbell and had issue.
- Lady Sophia Georgiana Lennox (21 July 1809 – 17 January 1902), married Lord Thomas Cecil, died without issue.
External links
- From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787
- thePeerage.com
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Lord's 1787-1945 by Sir Pelham Warner ISBN 1-85145-112-9.
- Cricket Archive page on Charles Lennox
- Cricinfo page on Charles Lennox
- Woods, Shirley E. Jr. Ottawa: The Capital of Canada, Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1980. ISBN 0385147228.