Charles Culling Smith
Encyclopedia
Charles Culling Smith, sometimes called Culling Charles Smith (c. 1775 – 26 May 1853) was a British politician and courtier.
On 2 August 1799 he married Lady Anne Fitzroy
(13 March 1768 – 16 December 1844), widow of the Hon. Henry Fitzroy (13 September 1765 – 19 March 1794; fourth son of Charles Fitzroy, 1st Baron Southampton
) and only daughter of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington
. By this marriage he gained two stepdaughters:
His marriage to Lady Anne produced a further two children, a daughter and a son:
Charles Culling Smith and Lady Anne lived in a grace-and-favour residence at Apartment 8, Hampton Court Palace
.
, became Foreign Secretary in the Tory government
of Spencer Perceval
in 1809, and Culling Smith was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
on 13 December that year, serving until 27 February 1812. On 1 June 1812 he was one of the Esquires to his brother-in-law the Earl of Wellington
at the latter's installation (by proxy) as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Culling Smith served as an equerry
to the Duke of York
, and was present in that capacity at the funeral of Queen Charlotte
on 8 December 1818, while his son was there as Page of Honour. On 14 August 1820 Culling Smith and his wife, son, daughter and step-daughters were among the mourners at the funeral of the Duchess of York. His last service as equerry was at the Duke of York's funeral on 20 January 1827.
On 13 March 1827 Culling Smith was made one of the Commissioners of the Board of Customs, but he continued to attend state occasions including the funeral of the Duke of Gloucester
on 11 December 1834 and the Duke of Wellington on 18 November 1852.
Family
He was the son of Charles Smith, Governor of Madras, and nephew of Sir Culling Smith, 1st Baronet.On 2 August 1799 he married Lady Anne Fitzroy
Lady Anne Smith
Lady Anne Smith, previously Fitzroy was the sister of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.She was born Lady Anne Wesley, daughter of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington and his wife Anne Hill, daughter of Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon.On 7 January 1790 she married Henry...
(13 March 1768 – 16 December 1844), widow of the Hon. Henry Fitzroy (13 September 1765 – 19 March 1794; fourth son of Charles Fitzroy, 1st Baron Southampton
Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton
Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton was a British statesman and soldier.The second son of Lord Augustus FitzRoy and a grandson of the 2nd Duke of Grafton, FitzRoy joined the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards as an ensign in 1752...
) and only daughter of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington
Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington
Garret Colley Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington was an Anglo-Irish politician and composer, best known today for fathering several distinguished British military commanders and politicians.-Life:...
. By this marriage he gained two stepdaughters:
- Anne Caroline Fitzroy, died 16 December 1835
- Georgiana Frederica Fitzroy (3 October 1792 – 11 May 1821), married 25 July 1814 Henry Somerset, Marquess of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 7th Duke of BeaufortMajor Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort KG , styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1803 and Marquess of Worcester between 1803 and 1835, was a British peer, soldier and politician.-Background:...
, with two daughters.
His marriage to Lady Anne produced a further two children, a daughter and a son:
- Emily Frances Smith (3 March 1800 – 2 October 1889), married 29 June 1822 her half-sister's widower Lord Worcester, who succeeded his father as 7th Duke of BeaufortDuke of BeaufortDuke of Beaufort is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the...
in 1835. They had one sonHenry Somerset, 8th Duke of BeaufortCaptain Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort KG, PC, DL , styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1835 and Marquess of Worcester from 1835 to 1853, was a British peer, soldier and Conservative politician...
and six daughters. - Frederick William Culling Smith (died 19 June 1828), a godson of the Duke of YorkPrince Frederick, Duke of York and AlbanyThe Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
. He was made a Page of HonourPage of HonourWhile a page is a comparatively low-ranking servant, a Page of Honour is a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It requires attendance on state occasions, but does not now involve the daily duties which were once attached to the office of page...
on 13 March 1812 and commissioned as a Cornet in the 2nd Dragoon Guards on 22 April 1819. He transferred into the Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
as an EnsignEnsign (rank)Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
on 18 January 1820 and reached the rank of LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in that regiment before promotion to the Royal Horse GuardsRoyal Horse GuardsThe Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
as a Captain on 2 January 1823. On 1 August 1826 he was promoted to the rank of Major of Infantry on the unattached list, and joined the 80th Regiment of Foot on 17 January 1828. He died at Malta later that year, aged twenty-six.
Charles Culling Smith and Lady Anne lived in a grace-and-favour residence at Apartment 8, Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
.
Life
Charles Culling Smith's brother-in-law, the Marquess WellesleyRichard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator....
, became Foreign Secretary in the Tory government
Tory Government 1809–1812
This is a list of members of the Tory government of the United Kingdom in office under the leadership of Spencer Perceval from 1809 to 1812.Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.-References:...
of Spencer Perceval
Spencer Perceval
Spencer Perceval, KC was a British statesman and First Lord of the Treasury, making him de facto Prime Minister. He is the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated...
in 1809, and Culling Smith was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
on 13 December that year, serving until 27 February 1812. On 1 June 1812 he was one of the Esquires to his brother-in-law the Earl of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
at the latter's installation (by proxy) as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Culling Smith served as an equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to the Duke of York
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
, and was present in that capacity at the funeral of Queen Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
on 8 December 1818, while his son was there as Page of Honour. On 14 August 1820 Culling Smith and his wife, son, daughter and step-daughters were among the mourners at the funeral of the Duchess of York. His last service as equerry was at the Duke of York's funeral on 20 January 1827.
On 13 March 1827 Culling Smith was made one of the Commissioners of the Board of Customs, but he continued to attend state occasions including the funeral of the Duke of Gloucester
Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a great-grandson of George II and nephew of George III.-Early life:...
on 11 December 1834 and the Duke of Wellington on 18 November 1852.