Lord Charles FitzRoy (politician)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles FitzRoy PC
(28 February 1791 – 13 June 1865), was a British soldier and Whig politician. He fought at the Battle of Waterloo
at an early age and later held political office as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
between 1835 and 1838.
, and his wife Lady Charlotte Maria Waldegrave, daughter of James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave
. Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton
, was his elder brother.
. He was a captain in the 1st Foot Guards and fought in the Battle of Waterloo
in 1815. He eventually reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
(MP) for Thetford
at the 1818 general election
, and held the seat until the 1830 general election
, which he did not contest. He returned to Commons the following year, when he was elected at the 1831 general election
as MP for Bury St Edmunds
. He held the seat until 1847
, when he did not stand again. When the Whigs came to power under Lord Melbourne
in 1835, FitzRoy was sworn of the Privy Council
and appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
, a post he held until 1838.
and Lady Elizabeth Compton, on 25 October 1825. They had one son and a daughter. He died in June 1865, aged 74. Lady Charles FitzRoy died in May 1871, aged 83.
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...
(28 February 1791 – 13 June 1865), was a British soldier and Whig politician. He fought at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
at an early age and later held political office as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
between 1835 and 1838.
Background
Fitzroy was the second son of George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of GraftonGeorge FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton
George Henry FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton, KG was a British peer and Whig politician, known as Earl of Euston from birth until 1811....
, and his wife Lady Charlotte Maria Waldegrave, daughter of James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave
James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave
James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave KG PC FRS was a British statesman.The eldest son of the 1st Earl Waldegrave, Waldegrave was educated at Westminster and Eton and he inherited his father's titles in 1741...
. Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton
Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton
Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton was the son of George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton and Lady Charlotte Maria Waldegrave, daughter of James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave....
, was his elder brother.
Military career
FitzRoy joined the army and served in the Peninsular WarPeninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. He was a captain in the 1st Foot Guards and fought in the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in 1815. He eventually reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Political career
FitzRoy was elected as a 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,...
(MP) for Thetford
Thetford (UK Parliament constituency)
Thetford was a constituency of the British House of Commons. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election until it was disenfranchised in 1868...
at the 1818 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1818
The 1818 general election of the United Kingdom saw the Whigs gain a few seats, but the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool retained a majority of around 90 seats...
, and held the seat until the 1830 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1830
The 1830 United Kingdom general election, was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue...
, which he did not contest. He returned to Commons the following year, when he was elected at the 1831 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1831
The 1831 general election in the United Kingdom saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to...
as MP for Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)
Bury St Edmunds is a county constituency located in Suffolk and centred on the town of Bury St Edmunds. It elects one Member of Parliament to in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. He held the seat until 1847
United Kingdom general election, 1847
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, when he did not stand again. When the Whigs came to power under Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
in 1835, FitzRoy 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...
and appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
, a post he held until 1838.
Family
FItzroy married Lady Anne Cavendish, daughter of George Cavendish, 1st Earl of BurlingtonGeorge Cavendish, 1st Earl of Burlington
George Augustus Henry Cavendish, 1st Earl of Burlington , styled Lord George Cavendish before 1831, was a British politician.-Background:...
and Lady Elizabeth Compton, on 25 October 1825. They had one son and a daughter. He died in June 1865, aged 74. Lady Charles FitzRoy died in May 1871, aged 83.