Charles Grey (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Grey was a British
army officer, member of the British House of Commons
and political figure in Lower Canada
. In later life, he served as private secretary to Prince Albert and later Queen Victoria.
He was born in Northumberland
, England in 1804, the son of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
and younger brother of Henry
the 3rd Earl Grey.
Grey joined the British Army as a sub-lieutenant in 1820 and commanded the 73rd Regiment from 1833 to 1842. Grey represented Wycombe
in the British House of Commons from 1832 to 1837, defeating Disraeli to win the seat http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/projects/disraeli/modpol001-agv.html.
In 1836, he married Caroline Eliza, daughter of Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar.
Their children included:
Grey came to Canada with his brother-in-law, John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
, in 1838. Grey was named a member of the Executive Council and Special Council of Lower Canada
in June of that year and served until 2 November. He returned to England with Lambton later in November. He was promoted to general in 1865. Grey served as secretary to Prince Albert from 1849 to 1861 and as secretary to the Queen from 1861 until his death in 1870.
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...
army officer, member of the British House of Commons
British 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...
and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. In later life, he served as private secretary to Prince Albert and later Queen Victoria.
He was born in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England in 1804, the son of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl 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...
and younger brother of Henry
Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey
Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey , known as Viscount Howick from 1807 until 1845, was an English statesman.-Background:Grey was the eldest son of Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by his wife the Hon...
the 3rd Earl Grey.
Grey joined the British Army as a sub-lieutenant in 1820 and commanded the 73rd Regiment from 1833 to 1842. Grey represented Wycombe
Wycombe (UK Parliament constituency)
Wycombe is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It currently elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of elections....
in the British House of Commons from 1832 to 1837, defeating Disraeli to win the seat http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/projects/disraeli/modpol001-agv.html.
In 1836, he married Caroline Eliza, daughter of Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar.
Their children included:
- Mary Caroline Grey (1858–1940) married the 4th Earl of MintoGilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of MintoGilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto was a British nobleman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the eighth since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, the country's 17th.-Early life and career:Minto was born in London, the...
- AlbertAlbert Grey, 4th Earl GreyAlbert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey was a British nobleman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the ninth since Canadian Confederation....
the 4th Earl Grey served as Governor-General of Canada.
Grey came to Canada with his brother-in-law, John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham GCB, PC , also known as "Radical Jack" and commonly referred to in history texts simply as Lord Durham, was a British Whig statesman, colonial administrator, Governor General and high commissioner of British North America...
, in 1838. Grey was named a member of the Executive Council and Special Council of Lower Canada
Special Council of Lower Canada
The Special Council of Lower Canada was an appointed body which administered Lower Canada until the Union Act of 1840 created the Province of Canada. Following the Lower Canada Rebellion, on March 27, 1838, the Constitutional Act of 1791 was suspended and both the Legislative Assembly and...
in June of that year and served until 2 November. He returned to England with Lambton later in November. He was promoted to general in 1865. Grey served as secretary to Prince Albert from 1849 to 1861 and as secretary to the Queen from 1861 until his death in 1870.