Frederick Irby, 2nd Baron Boston

The Hon. Frederick Irby was born on 9 June 1749, the son of William Irby, 1st Baron Boston and Albinia Selwyn.

He graduated from Oxford University on 8 July 1763 with a Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.), and from St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1769 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).

He succeeded his father as 3rd Baronet Irby, of Whapload and Boston and 2nd Baron Boston, on 30 March 1775.

He married Christian Methuen,[1] daughter of Paul Methuen and Catharine Cobb of Corsham Court, Wiltshire, on 15 May 1775.

They had thirteen children, including:

• George Irby, 3rd Baron Boston b. 27 Dec 1777, d. 12 Mar 1856
• Rear-Admiral Hon. Frederick Paul Irby b. 18 Apr 1779, d. 24 Apr 1844
• Lt.-Col. Hon. Henry Edward Irby b. 27 Aug 1783, d. 9 Mar 1821, who fought at the Battle of Waterloo [2] and died the service of the 1st West India Regiment.
• Rev. Hon. Paul Anthony Irby b. 16 Dec 1784, d. 10 Feb 1865, married Patience Champion de Crespigny, and became Vicar of Cottesbrook.
• Hon. Edward Methuen Irby b. 21 Mar 1788, d. 27 Jul 1809 at the Battle of Talavera.
• Captain Hon. Charles Leonard Irby b. 9 Oct 1789, d. 3 Dec 1845, traveller in the Middle East 1789-1845,[3] author of “Travels in Egypt and Nubia, Syria, and Asia Minor; during the years 1817 & 1818”[4] and “Travels in Egypt and Nubia, Syria, and the Holy Land” (1852) [5]
• Hon. Anne Maria Louisa Irby b. 2 Oct 1792, d. 19 Dec 1870, married Henry Peachey, 3rd Baron Selsey.

In 1778, Irby built a new mansion at his estate at Hedsor House, near Taplow, Buckinghamshire. An engraving of the manor, by his brother-in-law Archdeacon John Gooch, is now in the British Museum.[6]

An amateur etcher, Irby was invested as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) on 8 January 1778.[7]

In later life he was a courtier, holding the office of Lord of the Bedchamber to both George III and George IV, from 1780 until his death in 1825.[8] King George III was godfather to Irby’s oldest son and heir, George, at his baptism on 28 January 1778.[9]

Irby died on 23 March 1825, aged 75, at Lower Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London. His widow died on 9 May 1832.