Robert Lee, 4th Earl of Lichfield

Robert Lee, 4th Earl of Lichfield (1706–1776) was an English politician and peer, the last of the Earls of Lichfield.

Robert Lee
Earl of Lichfield
Reign–1776
PredecessorGeorge Lee, 3rd Earl of Lichfield
Born3 July 1706
Died4 November 1776
Spouse(s)Catherine Stonhouse
Issue
The marriage was childless
FatherEdward Henry Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield
MotherCharlotte FitzRoy

Birth and origins

Robert was born on 3 July 1706 in St. James Street, Westminster, London.[1] He was one of the ten children and the youngest of the sons of Edward Henry Lee and his wife Charlotte FitzRoy. His father was created the 1st Earl of Lichfield just before his marriage. Robert's mother was a natural daughter of Charles II and Barbara Villiers.[2]

Family tree
Robert Lee with wife, parents, and other selected relatives.
Charles II
1630–1685
Barbara
Villiers

1640–1709
Edward
1st Earl

1663–1716
Charlotte
FitzRoy

1664–1718
George
2nd Earl

1690–1742
Frances
Hales

d. 1769
Robert
4th Earl
1706–1766
Catherine
Stonhouse

1708–1784
George
3rd Earl

1718–1772
Diana
Frankland

c. 1719–1779
Henry
11th
Viscount

1705–1787
Charlotte
Lee

d. 1794
Henrietta-
Maria
Phipps

1757–1782
Charles
12th
Viscount

1745–1813
Marie
Rogier

d. 1833
Legend
XXXRobert
Lee
XXXEarls of
Lichfield
XXXViscounts
Dillon
Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.
Hunting scene by John Wootton (1744), with Robert Lee on the left holding the gun, George Lee, 3rd Earl of Lichfield, his nephew, mounted in the centre

Early life

Lee was MP for Oxford from 1754 to 1768, and considered a Tory.[13] Lee held the sinecure position of Custos Brevium of the Court of Common Pleas, in the royal gift.

Marriage

On 29 May 1745, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Lee married Catherine Stonhouse (1708–1784), daughter of Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet, of Radley, Berkshire.[14][15] The marriage was childless.[16]

4th Earl

On 17 September 1772, at the age of 66, Lee became the 4th Earl of Lichfield when the 3rd Earl, his nephew, died childless.[17]

Death, succession, and timeline

Lord Lichfield, as he now was, died childless on 4 November 1776,[18] falling off his horse while hunting near Ditchley.[19] He was buried in the All Saints church in Spelsbury in an elaborate marble monument by William Tyler (architect). He was the last Earl of this, the second, creation of the title. The earldom became extinct, but the estate went to his niece Lady Charlotte Lee, eldest surviving daughter of his brother, George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield. In 1744 Charlotte had married Viscount Dillon. Their son Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon inherited the estate at his mother's death in 1794. This included the house at Ditchley, which remained the home of the Viscounts Dillon until 1934.

References

  1. Cokayne 1893, p. 76, line 3: "He [Robert Lee] was b. 3 July 1706, in St. James' Street Westm.;"
  2. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 29: "His lordship [Edward Lee, 1st Earl] m. Lady Charlotte Fits-Roy, natural dau. of King CHARLES II., by Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland ..."
  3. Cokayne 1893, p. 75, line 19: "EDWARD HENRY LEE, styled Viscount Quarendon, 2d but 1st surv. s. and H. ap., b. at Windsor 6 June 1681, Col. of the Royal Reg. of Guards. He d.v.p. and unm. 1713."
  4. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 35: "James, capt. R.N., m. Sarah, dau. of John Bagshaw, and d. in 1711, s.p."
  5. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 37: "Charles, d. unm. 1708."
  6. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 67: "The [2nd] earl d. 13 February 1742, and was s. by his eldest son GEORGE HENRY LEE, 3rd earl."
  7. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 39: "Fitzroy Henry, vice-admiral R.N., d.s.p. 1720."
  8. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 41: "Charlotte, m. to Benedict Calvert, Lord Baltimore."
  9. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 42: "Anne, d. young."
  10. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 43: "Elizabeth, m. 1st to Col. Lee 2ndly to Rev. Dr. Edward Young."
  11. Burke & Burke 1838, p. 89, right column, line 4: "The gentleman [George Browne] m. first, in 1725, Lady Barbara Lee, youngest daughter of Edward, first Earl of Lichfield and widow of Colonel Lee ..."
  12. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 44: "Barbara, m. to Sir Charles Browne, Bart. of Kiddington."
  13. "Lee, Hon. Robert (1706–76), of Charlbury, Oxon., History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  14. Betham 1801, p. 318, line 35: "Catherine [Stonhouse] was married in May 1745, to the hon. Robert Lee, afterwards Earl of Lichfield: she died his widow, March 8, 1784."
  15. Cokayne 1893, p. 76, line 6: "He m. 29 May 1745, at St. Paul's Cathedral London, Catherine, da. of Sir John STONEHOUSE, Bart., of Radley ..."
  16. Burke 1949, p. 1911, right column, line : "Catherine Stonhouse, b. 25 May, 1708, m. 29 May, 1745, Robert Lee, Earl of Lichfield, and d. 8 March 1784. He d.s.p. 4 Nov. 1776."
  17. Burke 1866, p. 317, right column, line 72: "... but as he d.s.p. in 1772, the honours reverted to his uncle, ROBERT LEE as 4th earl ..."
  18. Cokayne 1893, p. 76, line 8: "He d. s.p. at Ditchley, 4 Nov. 1776, aged 71 ..."
  19. "The Scots Magazine". Edinburgh: Sands, Brymer, Murray and Cochran. 1776. p. 622. His death was occasioned by a fall he received from his horse the Friday preceding, as he was hunting near Ditchley.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
The Viscount Wenman
Thomas Rowney
Member of Parliament for Oxford
1754–1768
With: Thomas Rowney to 1759
Sir Thomas Stapleton, Bt 1759–1768
Succeeded by
George Nares
Hon. William Harcourt
Peerage of England
Preceded by
George Lee
Earl of Lichfield
1772–1776
Succeeded by
Extinct
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