George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick
Encyclopedia
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick, FRS, FSA
(16 September 1746 – 1816), styled Lord Greville until 1773, was a British nobleman and politician.
The eldest son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl Brooke
(created Earl of Warwick
in 1759), he was born on 16 September 1746 at Warwick Castle
. He was baptised on 10 October 1746 at St. Mary's, Warwick, with King George I
standing as his sponsor.
, and later matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxford University, on 24 September 1764. He also matriculated at the University of Edinburgh
. The Royal Register records that "a very great and singular attention was paid to the education of this nobleman by his late father, who, fearful of the corruption which disgrace our great seminaries of learning, consigned him to the care of the first historian of the age, to complete his moral as well as political character. From Scotland he returned so well informed, and such an amiable manliness about him, that the most flattering prognostications were made of his future eminence... His travels did not in any great degree either improve or corrupt him, and he has since remained a quiet inoffensive domestic character, little known but by persons of taste and virtue."
for Warwick
between 1768 and 1773. In 1770, Greville was appointed to the Board of Trade
.
On 1 April 1771, he married Hon. Georgiana Peachey, the daughter of James Peachey, 1st Baron Selsey, at St George's, Hanover Square. The couple had one son:
and left the House of Commons. He also left office on the Board of Trade in 1774, although he served as recorder
of Warwick
from 1773 to 1816. On 14 July 1776, he married Henrietta Vernon, the daughter of Richard Vernon and Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower, at the house of her uncle Earl Gower
in Whitehall
. They had four children:
He became a colonel
in the Warwickshire Fencibles in 1795, and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
in that year, which office he held until his death on 2 May 1816 in London. He was buried at Warwick on 12 May 1816.
The Lives of Celebrated Persons records that "the latter part of the Earl's life was in penury, mortification and wretchedness." The Biographical Index to the House of Lords records that "this peer has evinced a predominant taste for chymistry, and if we mistake not greatly, a patent for soap for the navy that will not curdle in salt water was taken out in his name."
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(16 September 1746 – 1816), styled Lord Greville until 1773, was a British nobleman and politician.
The eldest son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl Brooke
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....
(created Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles.-1088 creation:...
in 1759), he was born on 16 September 1746 at Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century,...
. He was baptised on 10 October 1746 at St. Mary's, Warwick, with King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
standing as his sponsor.
Education
Lord Greville was educated from 1753 to 1754 at Eton CollegeEton 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 later matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxford University, on 24 September 1764. He also matriculated at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. The Royal Register records that "a very great and singular attention was paid to the education of this nobleman by his late father, who, fearful of the corruption which disgrace our great seminaries of learning, consigned him to the care of the first historian of the age, to complete his moral as well as political character. From Scotland he returned so well informed, and such an amiable manliness about him, that the most flattering prognostications were made of his future eminence... His travels did not in any great degree either improve or corrupt him, and he has since remained a quiet inoffensive domestic character, little known but by persons of taste and virtue."
Early career
He was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Society on 17 December 1767 and as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on 14 February 1768. and he was Member of ParliamentMember 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...
between 1768 and 1773. In 1770, Greville was appointed to the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
.
On 1 April 1771, he married Hon. Georgiana Peachey, the daughter of James Peachey, 1st Baron Selsey, at St George's, Hanover Square. The couple had one son:
- George Greville, Lord Brooke (25 March 1772 – 2 May 1786)
As a peer
On 6 July 1773, Greville inherited his father's title of Earl of WarwickEarl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles.-1088 creation:...
and left the House of Commons. He also left office on the Board of Trade in 1774, although he served as recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
from 1773 to 1816. On 14 July 1776, he married Henrietta Vernon, the daughter of Richard Vernon and Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower, at the house of her uncle Earl Gower
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford PC , known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician.-Background:...
in Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
. They had four children:
- Lady Augusta Sophia Greville (d. 2 March 1845), married Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of AylesfordHeneage Finch, 5th Earl of AylesfordHeneage Finch, 5th Earl of Aylesford was a British peer, the eldest son of Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford.He was styled Lord Guernsey until he succeeded his father in 1812....
on 23 April 1821 - Maj.-Gen. Sir Charles John Greville (d. 1836)
- Henry Greville, 3rd Earl of WarwickHenry Greville, 3rd Earl of WarwickHenry Richard Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick, 3rd Earl Brooke KT , styled Lord Brooke from 1786 to 1816, was a British Tory politician....
(1779–1853) - Lady Henrietta Louisa Greville (1785 – 8 November 1838) married Thomas Scott, 2nd Earl of ClonmellThomas Scott, 2nd Earl of ClonmellThomas Scott, 2nd Earl of Clonmell , styled Lord Earlsfort between 1793 and 1798, was an Irish peer and politician....
on 9 February 1805
He became a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Warwickshire Fencibles in 1795, and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. Since 1728, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Warwickshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Warwickshire:*Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick 1569–1570*vacant...
in that year, which office he held until his death on 2 May 1816 in London. He was buried at Warwick on 12 May 1816.
The Lives of Celebrated Persons records that "the latter part of the Earl's life was in penury, mortification and wretchedness." The Biographical Index to the House of Lords records that "this peer has evinced a predominant taste for chymistry, and if we mistake not greatly, a patent for soap for the navy that will not curdle in salt water was taken out in his name."