Ford Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville
Encyclopedia
Ford Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville (20 July 1655 – 24 June 1701), 1st Viscount Glendale, and 3rd Baron Grey of Warke
, was a British nobleman and statesman. He was the son of Ralph Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Werke and Catherine Ford, daughter of Sir Edward Ford of Harting
in West Sussex
. He was baptized the day of his birth at Harting. His family seat was Chillingham Castle
in Northumberland
.
He married Lady Mary Berkeley, daughter of George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley
and his wife, Elizabeth Massingberd. Their elder surviving child, Lady Mary Grey, was born about 1678. In 1682 Grey achieved notoriety for being found guilty of seducing his wife's sister, Lady Henrietta Berkeley.
but escaped from the Tower of London
in July. He later became one of the leaders of the Monmouth Rebellion
, landing with Monmouth at Lyme Regis in June 1685. Being in command of the cavalry, its defeat on two occasions was probably caused by his cowardice, possibly even by his treachery. He was taken prisoner and condemned for high treason, but he obtained a pardon by freely giving evidence against his former associates, and was restored to his honours in June 1686.
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel about the Monmouth Rebellion, Micah Clarke
(1889), Grey is represented as the character Lord Grey of Warke.
During the reign of William III
he was made Privy Councillor
on 11 May 1695 and, on 11 June 1695, created Viscount Glendale and Earl of Tankerville
. From 1695 till his death he was a Commissioner of Greenwich Hospital; from November 1699 till November 1700, First Lord of the Treasury
. During the absence of the King from June till October 1700, he was a Lord Justice of the Realm, and from November 1700 till his death, Lord Privy Seal
. He died on 24 June 1701.
Baron Grey of Werke
Baron Grey of Werke , of Chillingham in the County of Northumberland, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 11 February 1624 for Sir William Grey, 1st Baronet. He had already been created a Baronet, of Chillingham in the County of Northumberland, in the Baronetage of England on...
, was a British nobleman and statesman. He was the son of Ralph Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Werke and Catherine Ford, daughter of Sir Edward Ford of Harting
Harting
Harting is a civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England, situated on northern flank of the South Downs. It comprises four settlements namely Nyewood plus South, East and West Harting....
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. He was baptized the day of his birth at Harting. His family seat was Chillingham Castle
Chillingham Castle
Chillingham Castle is a medieval castle in the village of Chillingham in the northern part of Northumberland, England. It was the seat of the Grey family and their descendants the Earls of Tankerville from the 13th century until the 1980s. The Chillingham Wild Cattle, formerly associated with the...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
He married Lady Mary Berkeley, daughter of George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley
George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley
George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley PC FRS was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1654 until 1658 when he succeeded to the peerage.-Life:...
and his wife, Elizabeth Massingberd. Their elder surviving child, Lady Mary Grey, was born about 1678. In 1682 Grey achieved notoriety for being found guilty of seducing his wife's sister, Lady Henrietta Berkeley.
Rye House plot
The following year he was arrested for involvement in the Rye House PlotRye 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 escaped from the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
in July. He later became one of the leaders of the Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
, landing with Monmouth at Lyme Regis in June 1685. Being in command of the cavalry, its defeat on two occasions was probably caused by his cowardice, possibly even by his treachery. He was taken prisoner and condemned for high treason, but he obtained a pardon by freely giving evidence against his former associates, and was restored to his honours in June 1686.
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel about the Monmouth Rebellion, Micah Clarke
Micah Clarke
Micah Clarke by Arthur Conan Doyle is an historical adventure novel set during the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 in England.The book follows the exploits of Conan Doyle's fictional character Micah Clarke...
(1889), Grey is represented as the character Lord Grey of Warke.
During the reign of 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...
he was made Privy Councillor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
on 11 May 1695 and, on 11 June 1695, created Viscount Glendale and Earl of Tankerville
Earl of Tankerville
Earl of Tankerville is a title drawn from Tancarville in Normandy which has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain for Charles Bennet, 2nd Baron Ossulston...
. From 1695 till his death he was a Commissioner of Greenwich Hospital; from November 1699 till November 1700, First Lord of the Treasury
First Lord of the Treasury
The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, and is now always also the Prime Minister...
. During the absence of the King from June till October 1700, he was a Lord Justice of the Realm, and from November 1700 till his death, Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
. He died on 24 June 1701.
Children and new Earl of Tankerville, third creation
- Lady Mary Grey married, on 3rd July 1695, Charles Bennet, 2nd Lord OssulstonCharles Bennet, 1st Earl of TankervilleCharles Bennet, 1st Earl of Tankerville KT PC , known as The Lord Ossulston between 1695 and 1714, was a British peer.-Political career:...
, later created 1st Earl of Tankerville, new creation, and died on 31st May 1710. - Lady Annabella Grey married, in 1697, John Cecil, 6th Earl of ExeterJohn Cecil, 6th Earl of ExeterJohn Cecil, 6th Earl of Exeter , known as Lord Burghley from 1678 to 1700, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.- Biography :...
but died in August 1698 leaving no children.
External links
- The Trial of Lord Ford Grey of Werk - The Genealogy of Lord Grey and Lady Mary Berkeley