Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
Encyclopedia
Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton, (3 April 1919 – 7 April 2011) was the son of Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton
, and his first wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton, second daughter of Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton
. He was known until 1970 as the Earl of Euston.
, through the 1st Duke of Grafton, the illegitimate son of King Charles II by his mistress Barbara Villiers
. The FitzRoys are thus a direct but illegitimate line of the House of Stuart.
He was educated at Eton College
and at Magdalene College
in Cambridge
. He was subsequently commissioned into the Grenadier Guards
, and for three years from 1943 was Aide-de-camp
to the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Viscount Wavell
.
Grafton devoted much of his life to the conservation and protection of historic buildings. He was chairman and later president of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
, and also chaired at various times the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Church of England’s
Cathedral Advisory Commission and Sir John Soane's Museum.
He was a member of the Historic Buildings Council
from its foundation in 1953, and until he succeeded his father in 1970 he was the National Trust’s
administrator for Sussex and Kent, and later East Anglia. He was also vice-chairman of the National Portrait Gallery.
The Duke of Grafton's home was Euston Hall
, near Thetford
. He was made a Knight of the Garter
in 1976. He was also President of International Students House, London
.
He died in 2011 in Euston Hall
, Suffolk
.
, (the current Mistress of the Robes
to Queen Elizabeth II
). The Duke and Duchess had five children:
Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton
Charles Alfred Euston FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton was a soldier and farmer.Charles was born at Euston Hall near Thetford, the eldest son of the Reverend Lord Charles Edward FitzRoy and of his wife Ismay FitzRoy, daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 3rd Baron Southampton...
, and his first wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton, second daughter of Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton
Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton
Sydney Charles Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton GCMG, PC was a British Liberal politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background and education:...
. He was known until 1970 as the Earl of Euston.
Biography
He was born in 1919 in Cape Town, South Africa. He was a descendant of Charles II of EnglandCharles 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...
, through the 1st Duke of Grafton, the illegitimate son of King Charles II by his mistress Barbara Villiers
Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland
Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland was an English courtesan and perhaps the most notorious of the many mistresses of King Charles II of England, by whom she had five children, all of which were acknowledged and subsequently ennobled...
. The FitzRoys are thus a direct but illegitimate line of the House of Stuart.
He was educated at 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"....
and at Magdalene College
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. He was subsequently commissioned into the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
, and for three years from 1943 was Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Viscount Wavell
Earl Wavell
Earl Wavell was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1947 for Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, 1st Viscount Wavell, Viceroy of India from 1943 to 1947...
.
Grafton devoted much of his life to the conservation and protection of historic buildings. He was chairman and later president of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris, Philip Webb and J.J.Stevenson, and other notable members of the Pre Raphaelite brotherhood, in 1877, to oppose what they saw as the insensitive renovation of ancient buildings then occurring in Victorian...
, and also chaired at various times the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Church of England’s
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Cathedral Advisory Commission and Sir John Soane's Museum.
He was a member of the Historic Buildings Council
Historic Buildings Council
Three separate Historic Buildings Councils were created by the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, one for each of England, Scotland and Wales...
from its foundation in 1953, and until he succeeded his father in 1970 he was the National Trust’s
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
administrator for Sussex and Kent, and later East Anglia. He was also vice-chairman of the National Portrait Gallery.
The Duke of Grafton's home was Euston Hall
Euston Hall
Euston Hall is a country house, with park by William Kent and Capability Brown located in Euston, small village located just south of Thetford in Suffolk, England. It is the family home of the Dukes of Grafton....
, near Thetford
Thetford
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:...
. He was made 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 1976. He was also President of International Students House, London
International Students House, London
International Students House, London is a residence for 700 British and overseas students, interns and trainees whilst staying in London. It is located in Central London close to London's West End at the south side of Regents Park and operates as a financially self supporting charity under a board...
.
He died in 2011 in Euston Hall
Euston Hall
Euston Hall is a country house, with park by William Kent and Capability Brown located in Euston, small village located just south of Thetford in Suffolk, England. It is the family home of the Dukes of Grafton....
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
Marriage and children
On 12 October 1946, he married Ann Fortune SmithFortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton
Ann Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton GCVO is the widow of Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton...
, (the current Mistress of the Robes
Mistress of the Robes
The Mistress of the Robes is the senior lady of the British Royal Household. Formerly responsible for the Queen's clothes and jewellery, the post now has the responsibility for arranging the rota of attendance of the Ladies in Waiting on the Queen, along with various duties at State ceremonies...
to Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
). The Duke and Duchess had five children:
- James Oliver Charles Fitzroy, Earl of Euston (13 December 1947 – 1 October 2009), married Lady Claire Amabel Margaret Kerr, daughter of the 12th Marquess of LothianPeter Kerr, 12th Marquess of LothianPeter Francis Walter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, KCVO was a British peer, politician and landowner....
and had issue, one son (Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of GraftonHenry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of GraftonHenry Oliver Charles FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton is an English peer. He inherited the Dukedom of Grafton from his grandfather, the 11th Duke, on 7 April 2011.-Biography:...
), and four daughters Louise, Emily, Charlotte and Isobel. The eldest daughter Lady Louise FitzRoy is now married to Charles Vaughan and has a daughter, Cristabel. Lady Emily married Conor Mullan and has a daughter, Constance. - Lady Henrietta Fortune Doreen FitzRoy, now Lady Henrietta St. George (born 14 September 1949), married Edward St. George (deceased) and has a son, Henry, and a daughter, Katie.
- Lady Virginia Mary Elizabeth FitzRoy, now Lady Virginia FitzRoy (born 10 April 1954), married (and divorced) Lord Ralph Kerr, son of Peter Kerr, 12th Marquess of LothianPeter Kerr, 12th Marquess of LothianPeter Francis Walter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, KCVO was a British peer, politician and landowner....
; remarried, but has no issue. - Lord Charles Patrick Hugh FitzRoy (born 7 January 1957), married Diana Miller-Stirling, and has two sons, Nico and George.
- Lady (Olivia) Rose Mildred FitzRoy, now Lady Rose Monson (born 1 August 1963), married Guy Monson, an investment funds manager, and has two daughters, Olivia and Leonora.