Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield
Encyclopedia
Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield (ca. 1659 – 5 November 1701) was born in France
and was naturalized in England
by Act of Parliament
in 1677.
, he was involved in the intrigues of the Duke of Monmouth
. In 1685 he was sentenced to death for being a party to the Rye House Plot
, but was pardoned by Charles II
. In 1689 he was elected Member of Parliament
for Lancashire
, which he represented till 1694, when he succeeded to his father's peerage.
Having become a major-general in the same year, Macclesfield saw some service abroad, and in 1701 he was selected first commissioner for the investiture of the elector of Hanover (afterwards King George I) with the order of the Garter
, on which occasion he also was charged to present a copy of the Act of Settlement to the dowager electress Sophia. He died suddenly on 5 November 1701 at about 40 years old, leaving no legitimate children.
. The poet Richard Savage
claimed that he was the younger of these children. The divorced countess married Colonel Henry Brett about the year 1700, and died at the age of eighty-five in 1753. Her daughter, Anna Margaretta Brett, was a mistress of George I. The 2nd earl of Macclesfield was succeeded by his brother Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl
(c. 1665–1702), on whose death without heirs the title became extinct in December 1702.
On his death Macclesfield left most of his estate to Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun
. In 1691 Mohun had married Charlotte Orby, a granddaughter of Charles, 1st Earl of Macclesfield. Although they were soon separated, in 1694 Mohun had accompanied Macclesfield on the Brest expedition. James Douglas, 4th Duke of Hamilton
also had a claim on the estate through his second wife Elizabeth Gerard, who was also a granddaughter the 1st Earl. It seems that Macclesfield preferred Mohun, a former captain of horse in his regiment, over Hamilton whom he disliked because of his Tory sympathies. Hamilton challenged Mohun through the courts. After over a decade of legal dispute the pair fought their famous duel in Hyde Park
, which resulted in the deaths of both men.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was naturalized in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
in 1677.
Biography
Like his father Charles, the 1st EarlCharles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield PC was an English aristocrat, soldier and courtier.-Life:The eldest son of Sir Charles Gerard, he was a member of an old Lancashire family, his great-grandfather having been Sir Gilbert Gerard of Ince, in that county, one of the most distinguished judges...
, he was involved in the intrigues of the Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
. In 1685 he was sentenced to death for being a party to the Rye House Plot
Rye House Plot
The Rye House Plot of 1683 was a plan to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York. Historians vary in their assessment of the degree to which details of the conspiracy were finalized....
, but was pardoned by 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...
. In 1689 he was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Lancashire
Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, which he represented till 1694, when he succeeded to his father's peerage.
Having become a major-general in the same year, Macclesfield saw some service abroad, and in 1701 he was selected first commissioner for the investiture of the elector of Hanover (afterwards King George I) with the order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, on which occasion he also was charged to present a copy of the Act of Settlement to the dowager electress Sophia. He died suddenly on 5 November 1701 at about 40 years old, leaving no legitimate children.
Family
In March 1698, Macclesfield was divorced from his wife Anna, daughter of Sir Richard Mason of Sutton, by Act of Parliament; the first occasion on which a divorce was so granted without a previous decree of an ecclesiastical court. The countess was the mother of two children who were known by the name of Savage, and whose reputed father was Richard Savage, 4th Earl RiversRichard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers
Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers PC was the second son of Thomas, 3rd Earl; and after the death about 1680 of his elder brother Thomas, styled Viscount Colchester, he was designated by that title until he succeeded to the peerage....
. The poet Richard Savage
Richard Savage
Richard Savage was an English poet. He is best known as the subject of Samuel Johnson's Life of Savage , on which is based one of the most elaborate of Johnson's Lives of the English Poets....
claimed that he was the younger of these children. The divorced countess married Colonel Henry Brett about the year 1700, and died at the age of eighty-five in 1753. Her daughter, Anna Margaretta Brett, was a mistress of George I. The 2nd earl of Macclesfield was succeeded by his brother Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl
Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield
Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield was a British peer, styled Hon. Fitton Gerard until 1701.He was the younger son of Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, and represented several constituencies, mostly in Lancashire, in the British House of Commons, before succeeding his brother Charles...
(c. 1665–1702), on whose death without heirs the title became extinct in December 1702.
On his death Macclesfield left most of his estate to Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun was an English politician best known for his frequent participation in duels and his reputation as a rake....
. In 1691 Mohun had married Charlotte Orby, a granddaughter of Charles, 1st Earl of Macclesfield. Although they were soon separated, in 1694 Mohun had accompanied Macclesfield on the Brest expedition. James Douglas, 4th Duke of Hamilton
James Douglas, 4th Duke of Hamilton
Lieutenant General Sir James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton and 1st Duke of Brandon KG KT was aScottish nobleman, the Premier Peer of Scotland and Keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse...
also had a claim on the estate through his second wife Elizabeth Gerard, who was also a granddaughter the 1st Earl. It seems that Macclesfield preferred Mohun, a former captain of horse in his regiment, over Hamilton whom he disliked because of his Tory sympathies. Hamilton challenged Mohun through the courts. After over a decade of legal dispute the pair fought their famous duel in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, which resulted in the deaths of both men.