George Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall
Encyclopedia
George Hamilton Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall KP, GCH
, PC
(10 February 1797 – 20 October 1883), styled Viscount Chichester until 1799 and Earl of Belfast between 1799 and 1844, was an Anglo-Irish
landowner, courtier and politician. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
between 1830 and 1834 and between 1838 and 1841 and as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
between 1848 and 1852. Ennobled in his own right in 1841, he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim from 1841 to 1884 and made a Knight of St Patrick in 1857.
, the eldest son of George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall
, by his wife Anna May, daughter of Sir Edward May, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
, before serving for a time as a Captain
with the 11th Hussars
. He was known by the courtesy title
Viscount Chichester from birth until 1799 and as Earl of Belfast from 1799 to 1844.
as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Carrickfergus
, and two years later became representative for Belfast. In July 1830 he was sworn of the Privy Council
and appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
in the Duke of Wellington
's Tory administration. In August he was returned to parliament for Antrim
. He continued as Vice-Chamberlain after Lord Grey
formed his Whig government in November 1830. In 1831 he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
. He remained as Vice-Chamberlain until 1834, the last months under the premiership of Lord Melbourne
. In 1837 he was once again returned to parliament for Belfast. He did not initially serve in Melbourne's second administration, but in 1838 he once again became Vice-Chamberlain of the Household. He resigned when the government fell in 1841 and the same year he unsuccessfully contested Belfast as a Liberal
candidate in 1841. He was instead raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom
in his own right as Baron Ennishowen and Carrickfergus, of Ennishowen in the County of Donegal and of Carrickfergus in the County of Antrim. He sat in the House of Lords
at Westminster
for three years under this title before succeeding his father in the marquessate in 1844.
Lord Donegall did not serve initially in Lord John Russell
first administration, but in 1848 he returned to the government as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
. He resigned along with the rest of the Whig government in early 1852. Apart from his political career he was also Lord Lieutenant of Antrim
from 1841 to 1883. In 1857 he was made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. At the time of his death in 1883 he was the senior member of the Privy Council.
After his first wife's death in September 1860, he married as his second wife Harriett Graham, daughter of Sir Bellingham Reginald Graham, 7th Baronet, and widow of Sir Frederick Ashworth, in 1862. There were no children from this marriage. Lord Donegall died in Brighton
, Sussex
, in October 1883, aged 86, and was buried in Belfast
. As both his sons had predeceased him the larger part of the Donegall estates were inherited by his only daughter, Lady Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester, wife of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury
. The barony of Ennishowen and Carrickfergus died with him while he was succeeded in the marquessate by his younger brother, Lord Edward Chichester
. The Marchioness of Donegall died in March 1884.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
, PC
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...
(10 February 1797 – 20 October 1883), styled Viscount Chichester until 1799 and Earl of Belfast between 1799 and 1844, was an Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
landowner, courtier and politician. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
between 1830 and 1834 and between 1838 and 1841 and as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
between 1848 and 1852. Ennobled in his own right in 1841, he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim from 1841 to 1884 and made a Knight of St Patrick in 1857.
Background and education
Chichester was born at Great Cumberland Place, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the eldest son of George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall
George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall
George Augustus Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall, KP, PC , styled Viscount Chichester until 1799, was an Irish nobleman and politician....
, by his wife Anna May, daughter of Sir Edward May, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, before serving for a time as a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
with the 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
. He was known by the courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
Viscount Chichester from birth until 1799 and as Earl of Belfast from 1799 to 1844.
Political career
In 1818 Chichester was elected to the House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus (UK Parliament constituency)
Carrickfergus is a 19th century United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Northern Ireland, represented, between 1801 and 1885, by one MP.-Boundaries:This constituency was the Parliamentary borough of Carrickfergus in County Antrim....
, and two years later became representative for Belfast. In July 1830 he was sworn of the Privy Council
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...
and appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
in the 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...
's Tory administration. In August he was returned to parliament for Antrim
Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Antrim is former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922-1950.-Boundaries:...
. He continued as Vice-Chamberlain after Lord Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
formed his Whig government in November 1830. In 1831 he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
. He remained as Vice-Chamberlain until 1834, the last months under the premiership of Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
. In 1837 he was once again returned to parliament for Belfast. He did not initially serve in Melbourne's second administration, but in 1838 he once again became Vice-Chamberlain of the Household. He resigned when the government fell in 1841 and the same year he unsuccessfully contested Belfast as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate in 1841. He was instead raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
in his own right as Baron Ennishowen and Carrickfergus, of Ennishowen in the County of Donegal and of Carrickfergus in the County of Antrim. He sat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
at Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
for three years under this title before succeeding his father in the marquessate in 1844.
Lord Donegall did not serve initially in Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
first administration, but in 1848 he returned to the government as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
. He resigned along with the rest of the Whig government in early 1852. Apart from his political career he was also Lord Lieutenant of Antrim
Lord Lieutenant of Antrim
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim. The office was created on 23 August 1831.*Charles O'Neill, 1st Earl O'Neill 17 October 1831 – 25 March 1841*George Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall 24 April 1841 – 20 October 1883...
from 1841 to 1883. In 1857 he was made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. At the time of his death in 1883 he was the senior member of the Privy Council.
Family
Lord Donegall married Lady Harriet Anne Butler, daughter of Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glengall, in 1822. They had three children:- Lady Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester (d. 14 April 1898), married Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of ShaftesburyAnthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of ShaftesburyAnthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury , styled Lord Ashley between 1851 and 1885, was a British peer, the son of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury....
. - George Augustus Chichester, Viscount Chichester (26 May 1826–18 June 1827).
- Frederick Richard Chichester, Earl of Belfast (25 November 1827–11 February 1853), died in NaplesNaplesNaples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, unmarried.
After his first wife's death in September 1860, he married as his second wife Harriett Graham, daughter of Sir Bellingham Reginald Graham, 7th Baronet, and widow of Sir Frederick Ashworth, in 1862. There were no children from this marriage. Lord Donegall died in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, in October 1883, aged 86, and was buried in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. As both his sons had predeceased him the larger part of the Donegall estates were inherited by his only daughter, Lady Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester, wife of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury , styled Lord Ashley between 1851 and 1885, was a British peer, the son of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury....
. The barony of Ennishowen and Carrickfergus died with him while he was succeeded in the marquessate by his younger brother, Lord Edward Chichester
Edward Chichester, 4th Marquess of Donegall
Edward Chichester, 4th Marquess of Donegall was born in Great Cumberland Place, London, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College Dublin, graduating BA in 1822. He served as Church of Ireland Dean of Raphoe from 1831 to 1871, and succeeded his elder brother as fourth Marquess of Donegall at the...
. The Marchioness of Donegall died in March 1884.