Robert Fulke Greville
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Fulke Greville FRS MP
(3 February 1751 – 27 April 1824) was a British Member of Parliament
(MP) and courtier.
The son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick
and Elizabeth Hamilton, and brother to Charles Francis Greville
, he was educated at Edinburgh University. He was commissioned as a Cornet
in the 10th Dragoons in 1768, and promoted to Lieutenant in 1772; he became a Captain in the 1st Foot Guards in 1775 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1777. He was Member of Parliament
for Warwick
from 1774 to 1780, supporting the Tory government of Lord North
, and for New Windsor from 1796 to 1806.
Greville served as Equerry
to King George III from 1781 to 1797 and Groom of the Bedchamber from 1800 to 1818. His diaries give remarkable insight into the King's illness and recovery from porphyria. They also record the King's 1794 season at Weymouth in considerable detail. He hence appears as a character in the play The Madness of George III
and its film adaptation
, played in the latter by Rupert Graves
.
On 19 October 1797, he married Louisa Murray, 2nd Countess of Mansfield and widow of David Murray
. His son
and namesake attempted to make improvements to the port of Milford Haven
which his uncle, Charles Francis Greville
, had founded.
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,...
(3 February 1751 – 27 April 1824) was a British 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) and courtier.
The son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick
Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick
Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick KT , known as Lord Brooke from 1727 to 1746 and Earl Brooke from 1746 to 1759, was a British nobleman....
and Elizabeth Hamilton, and brother to Charles Francis Greville
Charles Francis Greville
Charles Francis Greville PC, FRS , was a British antiquarian, collector and politician.-Background:Greville was the second son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick, by Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of Lord Archibald Hamilton...
, he was educated at Edinburgh University. He was commissioned as a Cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
in the 10th Dragoons in 1768, and promoted to Lieutenant in 1772; he became a Captain in the 1st Foot Guards in 1775 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1777. He was 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,...
for Warwick
Warwick (UK Parliament constituency)
Warwick was a parliamentary borough consisting of the town of Warwick, within the larger Warwickshire constituency of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 to 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then to the...
from 1774 to 1780, supporting the Tory government of Lord 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...
, and for New Windsor from 1796 to 1806.
Greville served as Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to King George III from 1781 to 1797 and Groom of the Bedchamber from 1800 to 1818. His diaries give remarkable insight into the King's illness and recovery from porphyria. They also record the King's 1794 season at Weymouth in considerable detail. He hence appears as a character in the play The Madness of George III
The Madness of George III (play)
The Madness of George III is a 1991 play by Alan Bennett. It is a fictionalised biographical study of the latter half of the reign of George III of Great Britain, his battle with mental illness and the inability of his court to handle his condition...
and its film adaptation
The Madness of King George
The Madness of King George is a 1994 film directed by Nicholas Hytner and adapted by Alan Bennett from his own play, The Madness of George III. It tells the true story of George III's deteriorating mental health, and his equally declining relationship with his son, the Prince of Wales, particularly...
, played in the latter by Rupert Graves
Rupert Graves
Rupert Graves is an English film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as DI Lestrade in the critically acclaimed television series Sherlock.-Early life:...
.
On 19 October 1797, he married Louisa Murray, 2nd Countess of Mansfield and widow of David Murray
David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield
David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield KT, PC , known from 1748 to 1793 as The Viscount Stormont, was a British politician. He succeeded to both the Mansfield and Stormont lines of the Murray family, inheriting two titles and two fortunes.-Life:Mansfield was the son of David Murray, 6th Viscount of...
. His son
Robert Fulke Greville (landowner)
Robert Fulke Greville was a politician, soldier and landowner of the early Victorian era, the son of Regency courtier Robert Fulke Greville....
and namesake attempted to make improvements to the port of Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
which his uncle, Charles Francis Greville
Charles Francis Greville
Charles Francis Greville PC, FRS , was a British antiquarian, collector and politician.-Background:Greville was the second son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick, by Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of Lord Archibald Hamilton...
, had founded.
External links
- http://dukesofbuckingham.org/people/contemporaries/greville_diarists.htm
- Welsh Biography Online
Works
- F. McNko Bladon (ed.), The Diaries of Colonel The Hon. Robert Fulke Greville, Equerry to His Majesty George III (London: The Bodley Head, 1930).
- Lewis Namier & John Brooke, The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1754-1790 (London: HMSO, 1964)