Thomas Grenville
Encyclopedia
Thomas Grenville PC (31 December 1755 – 17 December 1846) was a British
politician
and bibliophile.
and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet. George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
, was his elder brother and William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, his younger brother. He was educated at Eton
.
in the Coldstream Guards
and in 1779 promoted a lieutenant
in the 80th Regiment of Foot, but resigned his commission in 1780. He was, with one interval, a member of parliament from 1780 to 1810, and for a few months during 1806 and 1807 President of the Board of Control
(1806) and then First Lord of the Admiralty (1806-1807), but is perhaps more famous as a book-collector than as a statesman; he bequeathed his large and valuable library to the British Museum
. In 1798, he was sworn of the Privy Council
.
, London
, in December 1846, aged 90. He never married.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and bibliophile.
Background and education
Grenville was the second son of Prime Minister George GrenvilleGeorge Grenville
George Grenville was a British Whig statesman who rose to the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain. Grenville was born into an influential political family and first entered Parliament in 1741 as an MP for Buckingham...
and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet. George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham, KG, PC was a British statesman. He was the second son of George Grenville and a brother of the 1st Baron Grenville.-Career:...
, was his elder brother and William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, his younger brother. 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"....
.
Career
In 1778, he was commissioned ensignEnsign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
and in 1779 promoted a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 80th Regiment of Foot, but resigned his commission in 1780. He was, with one interval, a member of parliament from 1780 to 1810, and for a few months during 1806 and 1807 President of the Board of Control
President of the Board of Control
The President of the Board of Control was a British government official in the late 18th and early 19th century responsible for overseeing the British East India Company and generally serving as the chief official in London responsible for Indian affairs. The position was frequently a cabinet...
(1806) and then First Lord of the Admiralty (1806-1807), but is perhaps more famous as a book-collector than as a statesman; he bequeathed his large and valuable library to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. In 1798, 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...
.
Personal life
Grenville died at PiccadillyPiccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
, London
London
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...
, in December 1846, aged 90. He never married.
Styles from birth to death
- Mr. Thomas Grenville (1755-1779)
- Mr. Thomas Grenville, MP (1779-1784)
- Mr. Thomas Grenville (1784-1790)
- Mr. Thomas Grenville, MP (1790-1798)
- The Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville, MP (1798-1810)
- The Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville (1810-1813)
- The Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville, MP (1813-1818)
- The Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville (1818-1846)