Bevil Granville
Encyclopedia
Sir Bevil Grenville or Granville (died 1706) was an English soldier, governor of Barbados.
Grenville was the grandson of Sir Bevil Grenville, and the son of Bernard Grenville, M.P., and groom of the bedchamber to Charles II
, by his wife Anne, daughter and sole heiress of Cuthbert Morley of Hornby, Yorkshire. After keeping his terms at Trinity College, Cambridge
, he was created M.A. in 1679. He then obtained a commission in the regiment of foot nominally commanded by his uncle, John Grenville, Earl of Bath. From James II
he received the honour of knighthood. He saw some service in the Low Countries
. In December 1693 he came over from Flanders, waited on William III
, with whom he seems to have been a favourite, and gave him an account of the state of that country.
In January of the following year he was gazetted to the colonelcy of the regiment of the Earl of Bath, on the latter's resignation, and joined it in Flanders. In June 1695, in consequence of a violent quarrel, he fought in Flanders a duel with Colonel the Marquis de Rada, who shortly afterwards died of his wounds. On 21 March 1695-6 he was appointed by the king Governor of Pendennis Castle
in Cornwall
. At the end of May he re-embarked for Flanders, where he got again into trouble, ‘being accused by several officers for illegal practices on his regiment.’ A court-martial, however, acquitted him. In June 1698 his regiment was ordered for Ireland . Grenville accepted in May 1702 the governorship of Barbadoes, with a salary of £2,000 a year, but did not sail for the colony until March 1703. He had scarcely settled, when he fell dangerously ill of a fever then epidemic in the island. Some of the planters complained to the privy council of his tyranny and extortion. After a full hearing, 20 July 1705, Grenville was ‘honourably acquitted;’ but it was deemed politic to recall him in the following year. He died at sea on his passage home in September or October 1706. He was unmarried. By his will, dated 16 Jan. 1701-2, and proved at London on 6 Nov.1706, he left his estate to his brother, George Granville or Grenville, later Lord Lansdowne
. He wrote his name ‘Granville.’
Grenville was the grandson of Sir Bevil Grenville, and the son of Bernard Grenville, M.P., and groom of the bedchamber to Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, by his wife Anne, daughter and sole heiress of Cuthbert Morley of Hornby, Yorkshire. After keeping his terms at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, he was created M.A. in 1679. He then obtained a commission in the regiment of foot nominally commanded by his uncle, John Grenville, Earl of Bath. From James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
he received the honour of knighthood. He saw some service in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
. In December 1693 he came over from Flanders, waited on William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, with whom he seems to have been a favourite, and gave him an account of the state of that country.
In January of the following year he was gazetted to the colonelcy of the regiment of the Earl of Bath, on the latter's resignation, and joined it in Flanders. In June 1695, in consequence of a violent quarrel, he fought in Flanders a duel with Colonel the Marquis de Rada, who shortly afterwards died of his wounds. On 21 March 1695-6 he was appointed by the king Governor of Pendennis Castle
Governor of Pendennis Castle
The Governor of Pendennis Castle was a military officer who commanded the fortifications at Pendennis Castle, part of the defenses of the River Fal and Carrick Roads. Originally fortified under Henry VIII, defenses in the area were intermittently maintained through World War II. The office of...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. At the end of May he re-embarked for Flanders, where he got again into trouble, ‘being accused by several officers for illegal practices on his regiment.’ A court-martial, however, acquitted him. In June 1698 his regiment was ordered for Ireland . Grenville accepted in May 1702 the governorship of Barbadoes, with a salary of £2,000 a year, but did not sail for the colony until March 1703. He had scarcely settled, when he fell dangerously ill of a fever then epidemic in the island. Some of the planters complained to the privy council of his tyranny and extortion. After a full hearing, 20 July 1705, Grenville was ‘honourably acquitted;’ but it was deemed politic to recall him in the following year. He died at sea on his passage home in September or October 1706. He was unmarried. By his will, dated 16 Jan. 1701-2, and proved at London on 6 Nov.1706, he left his estate to his brother, George Granville or Grenville, later Lord Lansdowne
George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne
George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne PC was an English poet, playwright, and politician who served as a Privy Counsellor from 1712.-Early life:...
. He wrote his name ‘Granville.’