Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet
, KCB
(10 October 1767 – 3 October 1828) was a British Royal Navy
officer. He was born at the family home of Fallodon
, Northumberland
on 10 October 1767, the third son of Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
(1729–1807) and Elizabeth Grey (1744–1822), and younger brother of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
and General Sir Henry George Grey. He served as a naval officer in the Royal Navy
from the age of 14, and was on active service from 1781–1804, during the latter years of the American war of Independence, during the French Revolutionary War and the first year of the Napoleonic War. He served as Flag Captain for John Jervis
, Earl of St Vincent and later as Master and Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet
. He also served as Flag Captain for King George III on his royal yacht
. From 1804–1806, he was Commissioner at Sheerness Dockyard, and from 1806 until his death on 3 October 1828 he was Commissioner at Portsmouth Dockyard
He was on under Captain Lord Robert Manners
in George Brydges Rodney's action of the Battle of the Saintes
against the French on 12 April 1782
A commission for service at the rank of 4th Lieutenant in the Royal Navy was issued to George Grey in 1784.
Following representations made by Charles Grey
, to John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham
detailing the career of his son George (a lieutenant in the navy), and requesting he be considered for promotion, On 7 August 1793, confirmation was sent to him that George Grey had been appointed Captain of HMS Vesuvius .
At the commencement of the war with France in 1793, Grey was serving on the 32-gun HMS Quebec, from which he was promoted to the command of the Vesuvius bomb vessel
and on 3 October 1793, Sir John Jervis hoisted the flag of a Vice Admiral of the Blue on HMS Boyne
; his flag captain was the son of the general commanding the troops, Captain George Grey, from thenceforth associated with his patron's services, and with his affection to the latest hour of his life The combined forces, commanded jointly by John Jervis
and Grey's father, General Charles Grey
, proceeded to the Caribbean where they captured the French colonies of Martinique
, Guadeloupe
and St Lucia. According to accounts of the time, Charles Grey had troops in the order of 2,400 to attack the French-held forts, and his son, Captain George Grey and Captain Nugent were often employed, with 200 or 400 seamen, to move the heavy guns, ammunition and supplies to the troops, and at times to storm the enemy at the point of bayonet to gain territory.
On their return to British waters on 1 May 1795, HMS Boyne
caught fire during Marine exercises while anchored off Spithead
. The fire spread quickly, causing the on-board cannons to fire at nearby ships attempting to rescue the seamen on board. Eleven crewmen from the Boyne lost their lives, and two from the Queen Charlotte
, anchored nearby. The anchor cables were destroyed by the fire, so that the ship drifted and eventually ran aground. It eventually had to be blown up, and the Boyne Buoy, still marks the position of the wreck near Southsea Castle
at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
. The accident happened before John Jervis
had been able to remove all his papers and belongings, so everything he had on board was lost. George Grey, as captain, was court-martialed but acquitted, as he had not been on board at the time.
In November 1796, Captain Grey sailed with John Jervis
and Robert Calder
on HMS Lively, to join the Mediterranean Fleet
at Gibraltar
. Admiral Jervis raised his flag on with the two captains, Robert Calder
as Captain of the Fleet and Captain George Grey to command his flag ship. The Admiral hoisted his flag on HMS Victory
on joining the fleet. During the Battle of Cape St Vincent of the 14 February 1797, despite the heavy fighting, there was only one fatality on HMS Victory, when a Marine was shot alongside John Jervis
on the poop deck.
In August 1797, Captain Grey was given the command of and the following year, in September 1798, he succeeded Robert Calder
as Master and Commander
of the Mediterranean Fleet
, the orders coming from George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
, First Lord of the Admiralty on 29 August 1798.
By June 1799, Earl St Vincent had given Captain Grey the dormant position of Adjutant-General of Fleet and requested that he be permitted to have Grey accompany him home on the Ville de Paris. The service record of George Grey as Adjutant General of the Fleet whilst on Argo and Guerrier from June to November 1799 by Evan Nepean 26 Dec 1801
In April 1800, John Jervis
was recalled to command the Channel Fleet
, to quell the mutinous spirit of the crews. "Lord St Vincent was desirous of calling to his assistance in the Channel, as many as he could of the Officers formed in the Mediterranean Fleet... That the Admiralty could not, at a moment's notice, comply with these wishes as fully as his Lordship imparted them, may also be as easily supposed." Captain Grey accompanied the Admiral as his Flag Captain on HMS Ville de Paris.
At the beginning of the short peace in March 1801, he accepted the command of one of the royal yachts at Weymouth, and did not again see active service. The Grey family lived at Weymouth for the three years of his service to King George III and a doll's house that was presented to his daughters by the Royal princesses is on display at Kew Palace
.
. There his body lay in state until 8 January 1806 before being moved by state barge to Whitehall and the Admiralty for a state funeral.
In 1806, George Grey was appointed Commissioner at Portsmouth Dockyard. Besides overseeing the changing face of the Navy and the Dockyard being instigated by the Lord of the Admiralty, Earl St Vincent, Sir George had an important administrative role to play. Some of his correspondence with the Navy Board from 1807–1827 is still kept by National Archives relating to the workers, maintenance and general operation of the dockyard, including major accidents. He also wrote to the Board on behalf of offenders who faced deportation or death for their crimes.
In 1807, the mayor of Portsmouth John Carter
, together with the aldermen, Town Clerk and Coroner, arrived at the Dockyard gates to assert the right of judicial process over the whole dockyard. George Grey refused them entry until he had assurances that they were not claiming jurisdiction over the soil of the dockyard.
He became President of the Portsmouth Dock Yard Bible Association in 1817 and was an active supporter, with his wife, of Missions to Seafarers. His wife, Mary Whitbread, took an active role in looking after the dockyard workers' families, sick seamen and seafarer's orphans. She was the first woman to have been recorded as actively supporting seamen's missions by supplying scriptures and other religious reading materials to officers and instructing them to read to or distribute material to their crews at sea. She did this for over 20 years.
In 1814, during a royal visit instigated by the Prince Regent
, later King George IV, His Majesty Alexander I of Russia
, accompanied by her Imperial Highness Catherine, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, the Earl of Yarmouth and Count Lieven, his Imperial Majesty's Ambassador all stayed at the Commissioner's residence in Portsmouth Dockyard for the duration.
Sir George maintained his close friendship with Admiral John Jervis
until his death in 1823.
In addition to his work as Commissioner of the Dockyard he was also Marshal of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Barbados
; an Alderman
of Portsmouth and Vice President of the Naval and Military Bible Society.
He was buried at the Royal Garrison Church
, Portsmouth, where a memorial plaque is displayed in the Chancel.
on 29 July 1814, following the visit of the Allied Sovereigns to Portsmouth, and was awarded a KCB
on 20 May 1820 by King George IV, following a further Royal visit to the Portsmouth Dockyard..
in Hertfordshire
, daughter of brewer Samuel Whitbread
(1720–1796) and Lady Mary Cornwallis(1736–1770), and neice of Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
. Mary's half-brother, Samuel Whitbread (1758-1815) an English politician, was married to Elizabeth Grey, eldest daughter of Charles Grey
, 1st Earl Grey and George Grey's sister.
George Grey and Mary Whitbread had the following children:
Lady Mary Grey died 9 May 1858 at Eaton Place, Pimlico, London.
Descendants of Sir George and Mary Grey include: Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook
Francis Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook
, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6thEarl of Gainsborough
, Sir Peter Curtis, 6th Baronet Curtis. Admiral Francis George Kirby (1854–1951), Lt. Col. Norborne Kirby (1863–1922)
Grey Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Grey family, one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(10 October 1767 – 3 October 1828) was a British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer. He was born at the family home of Fallodon
Fallodon
Fallodon is a hamlet situated in Northumberland, England. It is the territorial designation of Viscount Grey of Fallodon. It is pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable.- Governance :...
, 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...
on 10 October 1767, the third son of Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey, KB PC was one of the most important British generals of the 18th century. He was the fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, 1st Baronet, of Howick in Northumberland. He served in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and French Revolutionary War...
(1729–1807) and Elizabeth Grey (1744–1822), and younger brother 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 General Sir Henry George Grey. He served as a naval officer in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
from the age of 14, and was on active service from 1781–1804, during the latter years of the American war of Independence, during the French Revolutionary War and the first year of the Napoleonic War. He served as Flag Captain for John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
, Earl of St Vincent and later as Master and Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
. He also served as Flag Captain for King George III on his royal yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
. From 1804–1806, he was Commissioner at Sheerness Dockyard, and from 1806 until his death on 3 October 1828 he was Commissioner at Portsmouth Dockyard
Military career
Grey served in the Royal Navy from the age of 14 in the West Indies and home waters from 1781.He was on under Captain Lord Robert Manners
Lord Robert Manners
Robert Manners may refer to:*Lord Robert Manners , British general*Lord Robert Manners-Sutton , his nephew*Robert Manners , general and MP for Great Bedwyn and Cambridge...
in George Brydges Rodney's action of the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
against the French on 12 April 1782
A commission for service at the rank of 4th Lieutenant in the Royal Navy was issued to George Grey in 1784.
Following representations made by Charles Grey
Charles Grey
-Real people:*Charles Grey, 7th Earl of Kent , Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire*Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey , British Army General*Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey , British Prime Minister, after whom Earl Grey tea is named...
, to John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham
John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham
General John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC was a British peer and soldier.-Career:He was the eldest son of William Pitt the Elder and an elder brother of William Pitt the Younger...
detailing the career of his son George (a lieutenant in the navy), and requesting he be considered for promotion, On 7 August 1793, confirmation was sent to him that George Grey had been appointed Captain of HMS Vesuvius .
At the commencement of the war with France in 1793, Grey was serving on the 32-gun HMS Quebec, from which he was promoted to the command of the Vesuvius bomb vessel
Bomb vessel
A bomb vessel, bomb ship, bomb ketch, or simply bomb was a type of wooden sailing naval ship. Its primary armament was not cannon —although bomb vessels carried a few cannon for self-defence—but rather mortars mounted forward near the bow and elevated to a high angle, and projecting their fire in a...
and on 3 October 1793, Sir John Jervis hoisted the flag of a Vice Admiral of the Blue on HMS Boyne
HMS Boyne (1790)
HMS Boyne was a 98-gun Royal Navy second-rate ship of the line launched on 27 June 1790 at Woolwich. She was the flagship of Vice Admiral John Jervis in 1794.-Fate:...
; his flag captain was the son of the general commanding the troops, Captain George Grey, from thenceforth associated with his patron's services, and with his affection to the latest hour of his life The combined forces, commanded jointly by John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
and Grey's father, General Charles Grey
Charles Grey
-Real people:*Charles Grey, 7th Earl of Kent , Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire*Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey , British Army General*Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey , British Prime Minister, after whom Earl Grey tea is named...
, proceeded to the Caribbean where they captured the French colonies of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
and St Lucia. According to accounts of the time, Charles Grey had troops in the order of 2,400 to attack the French-held forts, and his son, Captain George Grey and Captain Nugent were often employed, with 200 or 400 seamen, to move the heavy guns, ammunition and supplies to the troops, and at times to storm the enemy at the point of bayonet to gain territory.
On their return to British waters on 1 May 1795, HMS Boyne
HMS Boyne (1790)
HMS Boyne was a 98-gun Royal Navy second-rate ship of the line launched on 27 June 1790 at Woolwich. She was the flagship of Vice Admiral John Jervis in 1794.-Fate:...
caught fire during Marine exercises while anchored off Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
. The fire spread quickly, causing the on-board cannons to fire at nearby ships attempting to rescue the seamen on board. Eleven crewmen from the Boyne lost their lives, and two from the Queen Charlotte
HMS Queen Charlotte (1790)
HMS Queen Charlotte was a 100-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 April 1790 at Chatham. She was built to the draught of designed by Sir Edward Hunt, though with a modified armament....
, anchored nearby. The anchor cables were destroyed by the fire, so that the ship drifted and eventually ran aground. It eventually had to be blown up, and the Boyne Buoy, still marks the position of the wreck near Southsea Castle
Southsea Castle
Southsea Castle is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built in 1544 on the waterfront at the southern end of Portsea Island . The castle was built to guard the eastern entrance to the Solent and entrance to Portsmouth Harbour...
at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
. The accident happened before John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
had been able to remove all his papers and belongings, so everything he had on board was lost. George Grey, as captain, was court-martialed but acquitted, as he had not been on board at the time.
In November 1796, Captain Grey sailed with John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
and Robert Calder
Robert Calder
Admiral Sir Robert Calder, 1st Baronet, KCB was a British naval officer who served in the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.-Early life:...
on HMS Lively, to join the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. Admiral Jervis raised his flag on with the two captains, Robert Calder
Robert Calder
Admiral Sir Robert Calder, 1st Baronet, KCB was a British naval officer who served in the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.-Early life:...
as Captain of the Fleet and Captain George Grey to command his flag ship. The Admiral hoisted his flag on HMS Victory
HMS Victory
HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. She is most famous as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805....
on joining the fleet. During the Battle of Cape St Vincent of the 14 February 1797, despite the heavy fighting, there was only one fatality on HMS Victory, when a Marine was shot alongside John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
on the poop deck.
In August 1797, Captain Grey was given the command of and the following year, in September 1798, he succeeded Robert Calder
Robert Calder
Admiral Sir Robert Calder, 1st Baronet, KCB was a British naval officer who served in the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.-Early life:...
as Master and Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
, the orders coming from George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer KG PC FRS FSA , styled Viscount Althorp from 1765 to 1783, was a British Whig politician...
, First Lord of the Admiralty on 29 August 1798.
By June 1799, Earl St Vincent had given Captain Grey the dormant position of Adjutant-General of Fleet and requested that he be permitted to have Grey accompany him home on the Ville de Paris. The service record of George Grey as Adjutant General of the Fleet whilst on Argo and Guerrier from June to November 1799 by Evan Nepean 26 Dec 1801
In April 1800, John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
was recalled to command the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
, to quell the mutinous spirit of the crews. "Lord St Vincent was desirous of calling to his assistance in the Channel, as many as he could of the Officers formed in the Mediterranean Fleet... That the Admiralty could not, at a moment's notice, comply with these wishes as fully as his Lordship imparted them, may also be as easily supposed." Captain Grey accompanied the Admiral as his Flag Captain on HMS Ville de Paris.
At the beginning of the short peace in March 1801, he accepted the command of one of the royal yachts at Weymouth, and did not again see active service. The Grey family lived at Weymouth for the three years of his service to King George III and a doll's house that was presented to his daughters by the Royal princesses is on display at Kew Palace
Kew Palace
Kew Palace is a British Royal Palace in Kew Gardens on the banks of the Thames up river from London. There have been at least four Palaces at Kew, and three have been known as Kew Palace; the first building may not have been known as Kew as no records survive other than the words of another...
.
Later career
From 1804–1806, Captain Grey was Commissioner of Sheerness Dockyard. During his time there, on 23 December 1805 his official yacht, the Chatham, was used to transfer Horatio Nelson's coffin with his flag flown at half mast, from to Greenwich HospitalGreenwich Hospital
Greenwich Hospital can refer to:*Greenwich Hospital , USA*Greenwich Hospital , UK...
. There his body lay in state until 8 January 1806 before being moved by state barge to Whitehall and the Admiralty for a state funeral.
In 1806, George Grey was appointed Commissioner at Portsmouth Dockyard. Besides overseeing the changing face of the Navy and the Dockyard being instigated by the Lord of the Admiralty, Earl St Vincent, Sir George had an important administrative role to play. Some of his correspondence with the Navy Board from 1807–1827 is still kept by National Archives relating to the workers, maintenance and general operation of the dockyard, including major accidents. He also wrote to the Board on behalf of offenders who faced deportation or death for their crimes.
In 1807, the mayor of Portsmouth John Carter
John Carter
-Politicians:*John Carter , New Zealand politician*John Carter , U.S. Representative from Texas*John Carter , U.S. Representative from South Carolina...
, together with the aldermen, Town Clerk and Coroner, arrived at the Dockyard gates to assert the right of judicial process over the whole dockyard. George Grey refused them entry until he had assurances that they were not claiming jurisdiction over the soil of the dockyard.
He became President of the Portsmouth Dock Yard Bible Association in 1817 and was an active supporter, with his wife, of Missions to Seafarers. His wife, Mary Whitbread, took an active role in looking after the dockyard workers' families, sick seamen and seafarer's orphans. She was the first woman to have been recorded as actively supporting seamen's missions by supplying scriptures and other religious reading materials to officers and instructing them to read to or distribute material to their crews at sea. She did this for over 20 years.
In 1814, during a royal visit instigated by the Prince Regent
Prince Regent
A prince regent is a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch, e.g., due to the Sovereign's incapacity or absence ....
, later King George IV, His Majesty Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
, accompanied by her Imperial Highness Catherine, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, the Earl of Yarmouth and Count Lieven, his Imperial Majesty's Ambassador all stayed at the Commissioner's residence in Portsmouth Dockyard for the duration.
Sir George maintained his close friendship with Admiral John Jervis
John Jervis
John Jervis may refer to:* John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent , Royal Navy admiral* Sir John Jervis , British politician, Solicitor General, Attorney General and Privy Counsellor...
until his death in 1823.
In addition to his work as Commissioner of the Dockyard he was also Marshal of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
; an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Portsmouth and Vice President of the Naval and Military Bible Society.
Death and funeral
Sir George Grey died at the Commissioner's residence, Portsmouth Dockyard, on 3 October 1828. The Hampshire Telegraph reported his funeral on 13 October 1828:- "The remains of the Hon. Sir Geo. Grey, Bart. were this morning deposited in the Chapel of this Garrison, the Burial Service being performed by Rev. W.S. Dusauloy... The pall was borne by Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert StopfordRobert StopfordRobert Wright Stopford KCVO CBE PC was a British clergyman.-Early life and career:He was born in Garston, Liverpool and educated at Coatham School in Redcar and Liverpool College, where he was Head of House . He continued his education at Hertford College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Master...
, Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Burrard-Neale, 2nd BaronetSir Harry Burrard-Neale, 2nd BaronetAdmiral Sir Harry Burrard-Neale, 2nd Baronet GCB, GCMG, born Harry Burrard, was a British officer of the Royal Navy, and Member of Parliament for Lymington....
, Rear-Admiral Gifford, Major-General Sir Colin Campbell and Captains Loring and Chetham. the principal Officers in his Majesty's Dockyard in mourning coaches, and several hundred of the shipwrights and other artificers of the yard, on foot, followed. On the Grand Parade, a passage to prevent interruption, was formed by the military and the whole was conducted in the most solemn and impressive manner..."
He was buried at the Royal Garrison Church
Domus Dei
Domus Dei was an almshouse and hospice established in 1212 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK by Pierre des Roches, Bishop of Winchester....
, Portsmouth, where a memorial plaque is displayed in the Chancel.
Peerage
Sir George Grey was created 1st Baronet of FallodonGrey Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Grey family, one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
on 29 July 1814, following the visit of the Allied Sovereigns to Portsmouth, and was awarded a KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
on 20 May 1820 by King George IV, following a further Royal visit to the Portsmouth Dockyard..
Family
On 18 Jun 1795, George Grey married Mary Whitbread (1770–1858) of Bedwell Park at EssendonEssendon
Essendon may mean:Australia*Electoral district of Essendon*Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington*Essendon, Victoria**Essendon railway station**Essendon Airport*Essendon, Barons*Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, daughter of brewer Samuel Whitbread
Samuel Whitbread
Samuel Whitbread was an English politician.- Early life :Whitbread was born in Cardington, Bedfordshire, the son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread. He was educated at Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford and St John's College, Cambridge, after which he embarked on a European 'Grand Tour', visiting...
(1720–1796) and Lady Mary Cornwallis(1736–1770), and neice of Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
. Mary's half-brother, Samuel Whitbread (1758-1815) an English politician, was married to Elizabeth Grey, eldest daughter of Charles Grey
Charles Grey
-Real people:*Charles Grey, 7th Earl of Kent , Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire*Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey , British Army General*Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey , British Prime Minister, after whom Earl Grey tea is named...
, 1st Earl Grey and George Grey's sister.
George Grey and Mary Whitbread had the following children:
- Mary Grey (1796–1863) who married firstly Capt. Thomas Monck-Mason in 1823, by whom she had seven children, and secondly Henry Gray in 1840 in Ireland.
- Rt. Hon. Sir George Grey MP (1799–1882) born in Gibraltar and sometimes Home Secretary between the years of 1846 and 1866. He married Anna Sophia Ryder and had one son, Lt. Col. George Henry Grey (1835–1874)
- Elizabeth Grey (1800–1818) who married Charles Noel, 1st Earl of GainsboroughCharles Noel, 1st Earl of GainsboroughCharles Noel Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough , known as Charles Edwardes until 1798, as Charles Noel between 1798 and 1823 and as the Lord Barham between 1823 and 1841, was a British peer and Whig politician....
and died after the birth of their son, Charles George Noel, 2nd Earl Gainsborough. - Harriet Caroline Augusta Grey (1802–1889) who married Revd. John Simon Jenkinson and had four children
- Hannah Jean Grey(1803–1829) married Sir Henry Thompson, 3rd BaronetSir Henry Thompson, 3rd BaronetThe Revd. Sir Henry Thompson, 3rd Baronet Thompson of Virkees was the third son of Sir Charles Thompson, 1st Baronet, and Jane Selby. He succeeded to the baronetcy after his eldest brother the 2nd Baronet died without issue in 1826...
of Virkees (1796–1838), and died shortly after the birth of their daughter Hannah Jane Thompson - Jane Grey (1804–1838) married Francis Baring, 1st Baron NorthbrookFrancis Baring, 1st Baron NorthbrookFrancis Thornhill Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook PC , known as Sir Francis Baring, Bt, from 1848 to 1866, was a British Whig politician who served in the governments of Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell....
and had five children. - Charlotte Grey (1805–1814)
- Charles Samuel Grey (1811–1860) married firstly Laura Mary Elton(died 1848) by whom he had five children and secondly Margaret Dysart Hunter in 1850 by whom he had a further five children. He held the post of Postmaster of the Civil Services in Ireland
- a son who died in infancy 1814
Lady Mary Grey died 9 May 1858 at Eaton Place, Pimlico, London.
Descendants of Sir George and Mary Grey include: Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon KG, PC, FZL, DL , better known as Sir Edward Grey, Bt, was a British Liberal statesman. He served as Foreign Secretary from 1905 to 1916, the longest continuous tenure of any person in that office...
Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook
Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook
Thomas George Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook PC, GCSI, FRS , was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
Francis Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook
Francis Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook
Francis George Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook , styled Viscount Baring from 1876 to 1904, was a British politician....
, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6thEarl of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation ended in extinction when the sixth Earl died without heirs...
, Sir Peter Curtis, 6th Baronet Curtis. Admiral Francis George Kirby (1854–1951), Lt. Col. Norborne Kirby (1863–1922)
External links
- The Peeerage.com Captain Hon. Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet.
- Archive.org Chapter 1 Parentage and Early Years.
- Archive.org Full text of Private Papers of George 2nd Earl Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty 1794–1801. Spencer to St Vincent 29 August 1798 – stating Capt George Grey to be Master & Commander of Mediterranean Fleet.
- Kew Dolls' House
- Commissioners of H.M. Dockyards. Portsmouth 22 July 1806 Hon. George Grey (1) Capt, R.N. (Bart, 1814, K.C.B. 1820). Sheerness 24 Apr 1804 Hon George Grey (1)
- http://www.archive.org/stream/royalnavyhistory.05clowouft/royalnavyhistory05clowuoft_djvu.txt Page 164: Major Operations 1803–1815, Return of Nelson's body to London.
- http://www.history.inportsmouth.co.uk/people/grey.htm Biography of Sir George Grey in Portsmouth
- http://www.history.inportsmouth.co.uk/events/allied-sovereigns.htm Royal visit to Portsmouth Dockyard
- http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/archive/catalogue/record.cfm?ID=GRE%2F1-20 The National Maritime Museum
- Reference GB 0064 GRE (Papers of Sir George Grey)
- HMS Victory
- The National Archives – Nelson gallery
- Google Books Pages 148 and 149 – departure for Gibraltar from Portsmouth
- Google Books Page 259 – death of marine on Victory, Battle of Cape St Vincent
- Google Books Pages 393 and 394 – death of Admiral Jervis 1823
- Gentleman's Magazine Vol 98, Part 2, Pages 371–2 - 1828 Obituary of Hon Sir G. Grey.1828