Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford
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Francis Ingram-Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford KG
, PC (12 February 1743 – 28 June 1822), styled The Honourable Francis Seymour-Conway until 1750, Viscount Beauchamp between 1750 and 1793 and Earl of Yarmouth between 1793 and 1794, was a British
peer and politician.
headed by the Duke of Somerset
, Hertford was the eldest son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
, and Lady Isabella Fitzroy, daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
. He was the elder brother of Lord Robert Seymour
and Lord Hugh Seymour
. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
.
for Lisburn
, and later represented Antrim County between 1768 and 1776. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland
between 1765 and 1766 to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
, his father. He was also a member of the British House of Commons
for Lostwithiel
between 1766 and 1768 and for Orford
between 1768 and 1794. In 1780 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Cofferer of the Household
under Lord North
, a post he held until 1782.
He remained out of office until 1804, when he was made Master of the Horse
by William Pitt the Younger
. He continued in this position until Pitt's death in 1806 and later served under Spencer Perceval
and Lord Liverpool
as Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1812 and 1821.
Apart from his political career Lord Hertford was also Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
between 1816 and 1822 and Governor of County Antrim. In 1807 he was appointed a Knight of the Garter
.
, daughter of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount of Irvine, on 20 May 1776. She was a mistress of George IV
. On the death of his mother-in-law in 1807, he and his wife added the surname Ingram to their own, due to the fortune they received. Lord Hertford died in London
in June 1822, aged 79, and was succeeded by his son from his second marriage, Francis
. The Marchioness of Hertford died in April 1836.
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...
, PC (12 February 1743 – 28 June 1822), styled The Honourable Francis Seymour-Conway until 1750, Viscount Beauchamp between 1750 and 1793 and Earl of Yarmouth between 1793 and 1794, was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
peer and politician.
Background and education
A member of the Seymour familySeymour family
Seymour, or St. Maur, is the name of an English family in which several titles of nobility have from time to time been created, and of which the Duke of Somerset is the head.-Origins:...
headed by the Duke of Somerset
Duke of Somerset
Duke of Somerset is a title in the peerage of England that has been created several times. Derived from Somerset, it is particularly associated with two families; the Beauforts who held the title from the creation of 1448 and the Seymours, from the creation of 1547 and in whose name the title is...
, Hertford was the eldest son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford KG, PC, PC was a British courtier and politician.He was born in Chelsea, London the son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Lord Conway and Charlotte Shorter and died in Surrey, England...
, and Lady Isabella Fitzroy, daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton KG PC was an Irish and English politician.He was born the only child of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton and Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington...
. He was the elder brother of Lord Robert Seymour
Lord Robert Seymour
Lord Robert Seymour was a British politician, the third son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford. He was known as Hon...
and Lord Hugh Seymour
Lord Hugh Seymour
Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the late 18th century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford and became known for being both a prominent society figure and a highly competent naval officer...
. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Political career
In 1760, Hertford entered the Irish House of CommonsIrish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Lisburn
Lisburn (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Lisburn was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
, and later represented Antrim County between 1768 and 1776. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
between 1765 and 1766 to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, his father. He was also a member of the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel (UK Parliament constituency)
Lostwithiel was a rotten borough in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1304 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
between 1766 and 1768 and for Orford
Orford (UK Parliament constituency)
Orford was a constituency of the House of Commons. Consisting of the town of Orford in Suffolk, it elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote version of the first past the post system of election until it was disenfranchised in 1832.-History:...
between 1768 and 1794. In 1780 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Cofferer of the Household
Cofferer of the Household
The Cofferer of the Household was formerly an office in the English and British Royal Household.The holder had special charge over other officers of the household and was an officer of state and a member of the Privy Council and the Board of Green Cloth....
under Lord North
Frederick North, Lord North
Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, KG, PC , more often known by his courtesy title, Lord North, which he used from 1752 until 1790, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. He led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence...
, a post he held until 1782.
He remained out of office until 1804, when he was made Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
by William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. He continued in this position until Pitt's death in 1806 and later served under 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...
and Lord Liverpool
Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool KG PC was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the Union with Ireland in 1801. He was 42 years old when he became premier in 1812 which made him younger than all of his successors to date...
as Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1812 and 1821.
Apart from his political career Lord Hertford was also Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. Since 1728, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Warwickshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Warwickshire:*Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick 1569–1570*vacant...
between 1816 and 1822 and Governor of County Antrim. In 1807 he was appointed a Knight 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...
.
Family
Lord Hertford married, firstly, the Hon. Alice Elizabeth Hickman, daughter of Herbert Hickman, 2nd Viscount Windsor, on 4 February 1768. After her early death in 1772 he married, secondly, the Hon. Isabella Anne IngramIsabella Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford
Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford was an English courtier and mistress of King George IV when he was Prince of Wales...
, daughter of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount of Irvine, on 20 May 1776. She was a mistress of George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
. On the death of his mother-in-law in 1807, he and his wife added the surname Ingram to their own, due to the fortune they received. Lord Hertford died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in June 1822, aged 79, and was succeeded by his son from his second marriage, Francis
Francis Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford
Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford KG, GCH PC , styled Viscount Beauchamp between 1793 and 1794 and Earl of Yarmouth between 1794 and 1822, was a British Tory politician and art collector....
. The Marchioness of Hertford died in April 1836.