Henry Seymour Conway
Encyclopedia
Field Marshal
Henry Seymour Conway (1721 – 9 July 1795) was a British general
and statesman
. A brother of the 1st Marquess of Hertford
, and cousin of Horace Walpole, he began his military career in the War of the Austrian Succession
and eventually rose to the rank of Field Marshal
(1793).
(whose elder brother Popham Seymour-Conway
had inherited the Conway estates
) by his third wife, Charlotte (daughter of John Shorter of Bybrook, Kent) . He entered Eton College
in 1732 and from that time enjoyed a close friendship with his cousin Horace Walpole
.
Conway's English residence was Park Place
at Remenham
in Berkshire
. On 19 December 1747 he married Caroline, the widow of Charles Bruce, 4th Earl of Elgin and 3rd Earl of Ailesbury
, and daughter of Lieutenant-General John Campbell, later the 4th Duke of Argyll
. They had one daughter, the sculptor Anne Seymour Damer
.
in 1737 as a Lieutenant, being promoted to Captain-lieutenant (the equivalent of lieutenant-colonel) in the 8th Dragoons in 1740. During the War of Austrian Succession he served as a captain-lieutenant in the 1st Foot Guards in 1743 at Dettingen
, but missed the fighting by his regiment being in the rearguard. In 1745 he fought at Fontenoy, distinguishing himself, when only 24 of his company survived. He was engaged in Culloden
in 1746 during the Jacobite Rebellion. His next battle was at Lauffeld
, in which he narrowly escaped death, being captured by the French but released on parole three days later. In 1748, he transferred from the 48th Foot to the 34th Foot, and served with his regiment in the garrison of Minorca
in 1751.
for Higham Ferrers
in 1741 on the recommendation of Sir Robert Walpole. In this period he spent his winters in Parliament and his summers on active military service. In April 1746, he led an infantry regiment against the rebels at the Battle of Culloden
. He was elected in 1747 for Penryn
and for St Mawes
in 1754, both in the Boscawen interest
.
In 1755, he was unexpectedly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland
by William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington
, the new Lord Lieutenant
. He then finally took his seat for County Antrim in the Irish House of Commons. It was hoped that he would resolve the conflict in Irish politics between the Speaker, Henry Boyle
on the one side and George Stone, Archbishop of Armagh
and the Ponsonby family
. Ultimately, he reached a compromise, acceptable to the British Ministry
, in which Boyle was bought off with an earldom and John Ponsonby became Speaker. He was promoted a Major-General in 1756 and returned to England in May, but remained an Irish MP until 1761. He became a Lord of the Bedchamber
in 1757.
(the commander in chief) was acquitted by his court martial, the affair damaged both their reputations. In his displeasure, George II refused to employ Conway on the 1758 campaigns. He was not employed again until the next reign, except that he was sent to sign a cartel for an exchange of prisoners at Sluys in 1759.
In 1761, he served in Germany
as deputy to John Manners, Marquess of Granby
, the British commander in the army led by Ferdinand of Brunswick
. He commanded a corps at the Battle of Vellinghausen, which was at the centre of the line and not attacked. He was also present at the Battle of Wilhelmsthal in June 1762, and captured the castle of Waldeck
the following month. After peace preliminaries were signed at Fontainebleau
in November, he supervised the embarkation of British troops from Europe, returning to England in March.
in 1761, this time for Thetford
, which he represented until 1774. Like Walpole he was a senior member of the Rockingham faction of the Whigs
. He opposed the King's action against John Wilkes
in 1763, to declare this a breach of Parliamentary Privilege
. This resulted in his dismissal as a Groom of the Bedchamber and as Colonel of the 1st Dragoons. This led to the publication of pamphlets, as it was feared that the government intended to purge the army of its political opponents.
He entered office with Lord Rockingham
as Secretary of State for the Southern Department
in 1765 before switching to the Northern Department
the next year, serving until his resignation in 1768. In these offices, Conway sought to urge a moderate policy towards the American colonies, being the principal supporter of the repeal of the Stamp Act
in 1766, and opposing the taxation policies of Chancellor of the Exchequer
Charles Townshend
.
. He remained an important figure in the Commons, opposing the British attempt to suppress the American Revolt, and his motion in March 1782 was partly responsible for the fall of the North
government. He was rewarded with a cabinet position and the office of Commander-in-Chief in the new Rockingham ministry, but left the government a year later with the establishment of the Fox-North Coalition
. His political career came to an end in 1784 when he lost his seat in parliament due to his opposition to the new government of William Pitt
.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Henry Seymour Conway (1721 – 9 July 1795) was a British general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
. A brother of the 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis 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...
, and cousin of Horace Walpole, he began his military career in the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
and eventually rose to the rank of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
(1793).
Family and education
Conway was the second son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Baron ConwayFrancis Seymour-Conway, 1st Baron Conway
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Baron Conway of Ragley, 1st Baron Conway of Killultagh, MP, PC , was a British politician, born Francis Seymour.-Background:...
(whose elder brother Popham Seymour-Conway
Popham Seymour-Conway
Popham Seymour-Conway, born Seymour was an Anglo-Irish landowner and rake, the eldest son of Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet by his second marriage to Laetitia Popham, daughter of Alexander Popham....
had inherited the Conway estates
Earl of Conway
Earl of Conway was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1679 for Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway, subsequently Secretary of State for the Northern Department. The Conway family descended from Sir John Conway, Governor of Ostend. His son Edward Conway served as Secretary of State...
) by his third wife, Charlotte (daughter of John Shorter of Bybrook, Kent) . He entered Eton College
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"....
in 1732 and from that time enjoyed a close friendship with his cousin Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is now largely remembered for Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south-west London where he revived the Gothic style some decades before his Victorian successors,...
.
Conway's English residence was Park Place
Park Place, Berkshire
Park Place is a historic Grade II Listed country house and gardens in the civil parish of Remenham in Berkshire, England, set in large grounds above the River Thames near Henley, Oxfordshire.-History:...
at Remenham
Remenham
Remenham is a village and civil parish on the Berkshire bank of the River Thames near Henley-on-Thames in southern England.-Rowing:The parish covers the starting point of the Henley Royal Regatta course. Remenham Club is a private members club for rowers, with a good view of the river halfway along...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. On 19 December 1747 he married Caroline, the widow of Charles Bruce, 4th Earl of Elgin and 3rd Earl of Ailesbury
Charles Bruce, 4th Earl of Elgin
Charles Bruce, 3rd Earl of Ailesbury and 4th Earl of Elgin , styled Viscount Bruce of Ampthill from 1685 to 1741, was the son of Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury and Lady Elizabeth Seymour...
, and daughter of Lieutenant-General John Campbell, later the 4th Duke of Argyll
John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll
General John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll KT PC was a Scottish Whig politician in the 17th and 18th centuries.He was born to John Campbell, the third son of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, and Elizabeth Elphinstone, daughter of John Elphinstone, 8th Lord Elphinstone...
. They had one daughter, the sculptor Anne Seymour Damer
Anne Seymour Damer
Anne Seymour Damer, née Conway, was an English sculptor.-Life:Anne Conway was born into an aristocratic Whig family, the only daughter of Field-Marshal Henry Seymour Conway and his wife Caroline Bruce, born Campbell, Lady Ailesbury , and was brought up at the family home at Park Place, Remenham,...
.
Early army career
Conway joined the Molesworth's Regiment of Dragoons5th Royal Irish Lancers
The 5th Royal Irish Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British army originally formed in 1689 as James Wynne's Regiment of Dragoons.They fought in the Battle of the Boyne and at the Battle of Aughrim under William of Orange...
in 1737 as a Lieutenant, being promoted to Captain-lieutenant (the equivalent of lieutenant-colonel) in the 8th Dragoons in 1740. During the War of Austrian Succession he served as a captain-lieutenant in the 1st Foot Guards in 1743 at Dettingen
Battle of Dettingen
The Battle of Dettingen took place on 27 June 1743 at Dettingen in Bavaria during the War of the Austrian Succession. It was the last time that a British monarch personally led his troops into battle...
, but missed the fighting by his regiment being in the rearguard. In 1745 he fought at Fontenoy, distinguishing himself, when only 24 of his company survived. He was engaged in Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in 1746 during the Jacobite Rebellion. His next battle was at Lauffeld
Battle of Lauffeld
The Battle of Lauffeld, also known as the Battle of Lafelt or Battle of Maastricht, also Battle of Val, took place on 2 July 1747, during the French invasion of the Netherlands. It was part of the War of the Austrian Succession...
, in which he narrowly escaped death, being captured by the French but released on parole three days later. In 1748, he transferred from the 48th Foot to the 34th Foot, and served with his regiment in the garrison of Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
in 1751.
Early political career
Conway entered politics at an early age. He was elected unopposed to the Irish Parliament in 1741 for Antrim County, and to the British ParliamentParliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
for Higham Ferrers
Higham Ferrers (UK Parliament constituency)
Higham Ferrers was a parliamentary borough in Northamptonshire, which was represented in the House of Commons from 1558 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
in 1741 on the recommendation of Sir Robert Walpole. In this period he spent his winters in Parliament and his summers on active military service. In April 1746, he led an infantry regiment against the rebels at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
. He was elected in 1747 for Penryn
Penryn (UK Parliament constituency)
Penryn was a parliamentary borough in Cornwall, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1553 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to until 1832...
and for St Mawes
St Mawes (UK Parliament constituency)
St Mawes was a rotten borough in Cornwall. It returned two Members of Parliament ) to the House of Commons of England from 1562 to 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until it was abolished by the Great Reform Act in...
in 1754, both in the Boscawen interest
Earl of Falmouth
The title of Earl of Falmouth has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and the second time in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation, on 17 March 1664, was for Charles Berkeley, 1st Viscount Fitzhardinge, who was at the same time created Baron Botetourt of Langport. It...
.
In 1755, he was unexpectedly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
by William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC , styled Lord Cavendish before 1729 and Marquess of Hartington between 1729 and 1755, was a British Whig statesman who was briefly nominal Prime Minister of Great Britain...
, the new Lord Lieutenant
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...
. He then finally took his seat for County Antrim in the Irish House of Commons. It was hoped that he would resolve the conflict in Irish politics between the Speaker, Henry Boyle
Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon
Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon, PC was a prominent Irish politician.Boyle was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Boyle , second son of Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery. His mother was Lady Mary O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin...
on the one side and George Stone, Archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)
The Anglican Archbishop of Armagh is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of Ireland, the metropolitan of the Province of Armagh and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Armagh....
and the Ponsonby family
Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1739 for Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon, who had previously represented Newtownards and County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons...
. Ultimately, he reached a compromise, acceptable to the British Ministry
First Newcastle Ministry
The First Newcastle Ministry was a British government that existed from 1754 until 1756, headed by the Duke of Newcastle. After the death of the previous Prime Minister, his brother Henry Pelham, Newcastle had formed a fresh administration...
, in which Boyle was bought off with an earldom and John Ponsonby became Speaker. He was promoted a Major-General in 1756 and returned to England in May, but remained an Irish MP until 1761. He became a Lord of the Bedchamber
Lord of the Bedchamber
A Lord of the Bedchamber, previously known as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household of the King of the United Kingdom and the Prince of Wales. A Lord of the Bedchamber's duties consisted of assisting the King with his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,...
in 1757.
Seven Years War
Conway was the British military second in command on the Rochefort expedition in 1757, and repeatedly advocated an attack on Fort Fouras, but his colleagues would only agree a night attack (which failed). He then refused to take sole responsibility for a day attack. Ultimately the expedition returned to Portsmouth having achieved nothing. Though MordauntJohn Mordaunt (British Army officer)
General Sir John Mordaunt, KB was a British soldier and Whig politician, the son of Lieutenant-General Harry Mordaunt and Margaret Spencer...
(the commander in chief) was acquitted by his court martial, the affair damaged both their reputations. In his displeasure, George II refused to employ Conway on the 1758 campaigns. He was not employed again until the next reign, except that he was sent to sign a cartel for an exchange of prisoners at Sluys in 1759.
In 1761, he served in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as deputy to John Manners, Marquess of Granby
John Manners, Marquess of Granby
General John Manners, Marquess of Granby PC, , British soldier, was the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland. As he did not outlive his father, he was known by his father's subsidiary title, Marquess of Granby...
, the British commander in the army led by Ferdinand of Brunswick
Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick
Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg , was a Prussian field marshal known for his participation in the Seven Years' War...
. He commanded a corps at the Battle of Vellinghausen, which was at the centre of the line and not attacked. He was also present at the Battle of Wilhelmsthal in June 1762, and captured the castle of Waldeck
Waldeck Castle
Castle Waldeck within the limits of the village of Dorweiler in Dommershausen in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate was the main seat of the Hunsrück Family Boos.The ruin lies high above the Baybach valley...
the following month. After peace preliminaries were signed at Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
in November, he supervised the embarkation of British troops from Europe, returning to England in March.
Later political career
Conway was mentored in his political career by his cousin Horace Walpole. He was re-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...
in 1761, this time for Thetford
Thetford (UK Parliament constituency)
Thetford was a constituency of the British House of Commons. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election until it was disenfranchised in 1868...
, which he represented until 1774. Like Walpole he was a senior member of the Rockingham faction of the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
. He opposed the King's action against John Wilkes
John Wilkes
John Wilkes was an English radical, journalist and politician.He was first elected Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives...
in 1763, to declare this a breach of Parliamentary Privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
. This resulted in his dismissal as a Groom of the Bedchamber and as Colonel of the 1st Dragoons. This led to the publication of pamphlets, as it was feared that the government intended to purge the army of its political opponents.
He entered office with Lord Rockingham
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, KG, PC , styled The Hon. Charles Watson-Wentworth before 1733, Viscount Higham between 1733 and 1746, Earl of Malton between 1746 and 1750 and The Earl Malton in 1750, was a British Whig statesman, most notable for his two terms as Prime...
as Secretary of State for the Southern Department
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
The Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782.Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two British Secretaries of State were divided not based on the principles of modern ministerial divisions, but...
in 1765 before switching to the Northern Department
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
The Secretary of State for the Northern Department was a position in the Cabinet of the government of Great Britain up to 1782. Before the Act of Union, 1707, the Secretary of State's responsibilities were in relation to the English government, not the British. Even after the Union, there was...
the next year, serving until his resignation in 1768. In these offices, Conway sought to urge a moderate policy towards the American colonies, being the principal supporter of the repeal of the Stamp Act
Stamp Act 1765
The Stamp Act 1765 was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp...
in 1766, and opposing the taxation policies of Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Charles Townshend
Charles Townshend
Charles Townshend was a British politician. He was born at his family's seat of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, the second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, and Audrey , daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Ball's Park, near Hertford, a lady who rivalled her son in...
.
Return to the Army
Following his resignation in January 1768, Conway returned to the military, and in 1772 was made a full general and Governor of JerseyJersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
. He remained an important figure in the Commons, opposing the British attempt to suppress the American Revolt, and his motion in March 1782 was partly responsible for the fall of the North
Frederick North, Lord North
Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, KG, PC , more often known by his courtesy title, Lord North, which he used from 1752 until 1790, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. He led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence...
government. He was rewarded with a cabinet position and the office of Commander-in-Chief in the new Rockingham ministry, but left the government a year later with the establishment of the Fox-North Coalition
Fox-North Coalition
The Fox-North Coalition was a government in Great Britain that held office during 1783. As the name suggests, the ministry was a coalition of the groups supporting Charles James Fox and Lord North...
. His political career came to an end in 1784 when he lost his seat in parliament due to his opposition to the new government of William Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
.
External links
- Henry Seymour Conway (1721–1795) from David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History