Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton

Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC, FRS (25 October 1683 – 6 May 1757) was an Irish and English politician.


The Duke of Grafton

Portrait by William Hoare
Lord High Steward
for the coronation of King George I
In office
19 October 1714  20 October 1714
MonarchGeorge I
Preceded byThe Duke of Devonshire
Succeeded byThe Earl Cowper
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
In office
18 June 1720  6 May 1724
Preceded byThe Duke of Bolton
Succeeded byThe Lord Carteret
Personal details
Born(1683-10-25)25 October 1683
Died6 May 1757(1757-05-06) (aged 73)
Spouse(s)Lady Henrietta Somerset
ChildrenCharles FitzRoy-Scudamore
Charles FitzRoy, Earl of Euston
George FitzRoy, Earl of Euston
Lord Augustus FitzRoy
Lord Charles FitzRoy
Caroline Stanhope, Countess of Harrington
Lady Harriet FitzRoy
Isabella Seymour-Conway, Countess of Hertford
ParentsHenry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington

Early life

He was the only child and heir of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (1663–1690) (an illegitimate son of King Charles II by his mistress Barbara Villiers) by his wife Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington a great granddaughter of William the Silent. He succeeded to his father's titles on 9 October 1690.

Career

Grafton was one of the members of the Hanoverian-supporting Kit-Cat Club portrayed by Godfrey Kneller.[1] He served as Lord High Steward at King George I's coronation, becoming a Privy Counsellor in 1715 and a Knight of the Garter in 1721. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1720 to 1724[2] and Lord Chamberlain from 1724 until his death. In 1719 he was one of the main subscribers to the Royal Academy of Music, a corporation that produced baroque opera on the stage. In 1739 he supported the creation of what was to become one of London's most notable charities, the Foundling Hospital. He sat on that charity's original Court of Governors with such fellow Governors as John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere of Hanworth, and Micajah Perry, a Lord Mayor of London. He was affectionately known to the Royal court as 'Booby Grafton'. For a number of years he and Princess Emily, one of George II's daughters, enjoyed a semi-flirtatious relationship.

Marriage and children

On 30 April 1713, he married Lady Henrietta Somerset (27 August 1690 - 7 August 1726), daughter of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester and Rebecca Child. They had seven children:

The Duke also fathered an illegitimate son, Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore.

Isabella, Countess of Hertford by Alexander Roslin (1765)
Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow
Coat of arms of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC, FRS

Legacy

Grafton, Massachusetts, is named after him.

References

  1. Kneller portrait of Grafton. Accessed 21 August 2017.
  2. Rachel Wilson, "The Vicereines of Ireland and the Transformation of the Dublin Court, c. 1703-1737" in The Court Historian, xix, no. 1 (2014).
  3. Leo van der Pas. "George Fitzroy, Earl of Euston (1715–1747)". Archived from the original on 20 April 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2004. from Brigitte Gastel-Lloyd's Worldroots website. Retrieved in cached version on 7 October 2009.

Sources

  • R.H. Nichols and F A. Wray, The History of the Foundling Hospital (London: Oxford University Press, 1935).
Political offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Bolton
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
1720–1724
Succeeded by
The Lord Carteret
Preceded by
The Duke of Newcastle
Lord Chamberlain
1724–1757
Succeeded by
The 4th Duke of Devonshire
Honorary titles
Vacant
Title last held by
The 1st Duke of Devonshire
Lord High Steward
1714
Vacant
Title next held by
The Lord Cowper
Preceded by
The Earl of Dysart
Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk
1705–1757
Succeeded by
The Duke of Grafton
Vice-Admiral of Suffolk
1705–1757
Vacant
Title next held by
The Marquess of Hertford
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Henry FitzRoy
Duke of Grafton
1690–1757
Succeeded by
Augustus FitzRoy
Preceded by
Isabella Bennett
Earl of Arlington
1723–1757
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