George Cholmondeley, 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley
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George James Cholmondeley, 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley KG
, GCH
, PC (icon; 11 May 1749 – 10 April 1827), styled Viscount Malpas between 1764 and 1770 and known as The Earl of Cholmondeley between 1770 and 1815, was a British
peer and politician.
, and Hester Edwardes. George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley
, was his grandfather. He was a direct descendant of Sir Robert Walpole
, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain
. He was educated at Eton
. In January of 1776, Cholmondeley began an affair with the noted beauty Grace Dalrymple Elliot
, allegedly taking her up during a Pantheon masquerade ball. Grace was legally separated from her husband, Dr. John Eliot, who was to divorce her several months later. This liaison lasted for three years.
. In April 1783, Cholmondeley was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
in the government of the Duke of Portland
, a post he held until December the same year. He remained out of office for the next 29 years, but in 1812 he was made Lord Steward of the Household in Spencer Perceval
's Tory administration
. He continued in the post after Lord Liverpool
became Prime Minister after Perceval's assasination in May 1812, holding it until 1821.
In 1815, Cholmondeley was created Earl of Rocksavage, in the County of Chester, and Marquess of Cholmondeley. He was further honoured when he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
(Hanoverian Order) in 1819 and a Knight of the Garter
in 1822. Apart from his political career, he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire from 1770 to 1783 and Vice-Admiral of Cheshire
from 1770 to 1827.
, on 25 April 1791. Through this marriage the ancient hereditary office of Lord Great Chamberlain
came into the Cholmondeley family. Lord Cholmondeley died at age 77 in April 1827; and he was succeeded in his lands, estates and titles by his eldest son George
. Lady Cholmondeley died in 1838.
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...
, GCH
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
, PC (icon; 11 May 1749 – 10 April 1827), styled Viscount Malpas between 1764 and 1770 and known as The Earl of Cholmondeley between 1770 and 1815, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer and politician.
Background and education
Cholmondeley was the son of George Cholmondeley, Viscount MalpasGeorge Cholmondeley, Viscount Malpas
George Cholmondeley, Viscount Malpas was a British soldier and Member of Parliament.Cholmondeley was the eldest son of George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley, and Lady Mary Walpole, daughter of Prime Minister Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford...
, and Hester Edwardes. George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley
George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley
George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley KB, PC , styled as Viscount Malpas from 1725 to 1733, was a British peer and Whig politician.-Life:...
, was his grandfather. He was a direct descendant of Sir Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. 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"....
. In January of 1776, Cholmondeley began an affair with the noted beauty Grace Dalrymple Elliot
Grace Elliott
Grace Dalrymple Elliott was a Scottish socialite and courtesan who was resident in Paris at the time of the French Revolution and an eyewitness to events. She was once mistress of the Duke of Orléans, who was cousin to King Louis XVI....
, allegedly taking her up during a Pantheon masquerade ball. Grace was legally separated from her husband, Dr. John Eliot, who was to divorce her several months later. This liaison lasted for three years.
Career
In 1770 he Cholmondeley his grandfather as fourth Earl of Cholmondeley and entered the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In April 1783, Cholmondeley was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
in the government of the Duke of Portland
William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, KG, PC was a British Whig and Tory statesman, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Prime Minister. He was known before 1762 by the courtesy title Marquess of Titchfield. He held a title of every degree of British nobility—Duke,...
, a post he held until December the same year. He remained out of office for the next 29 years, but in 1812 he was made Lord Steward of the Household in 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...
's Tory administration
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:...
. He continued in the post after 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...
became Prime Minister after Perceval's assasination in May 1812, holding it until 1821.
In 1815, Cholmondeley was created Earl of Rocksavage, in the County of Chester, and Marquess of Cholmondeley. He was further honoured when he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(Hanoverian Order) in 1819 and 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...
in 1822. Apart from his political career, he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire from 1770 to 1783 and Vice-Admiral of Cheshire
Vice-Admiral of Cheshire
This is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Cheshire.*Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby bef. 1569–1572*Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby 1573–1593*Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby 1593–1594*vacant...
from 1770 to 1827.
Family
Lord Cholmondeley married Lady Georgiana Charlotte Bertie, daughter of Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and KestevenPeregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven
General Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, 3rd Marquess of Lindsey, 6th Earl of Lindsey, 19th Baron Willoughby de Eresby PC was the son of Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven....
, on 25 April 1791. Through this marriage the ancient hereditary office of Lord Great Chamberlain
Lord Great Chamberlain
The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable...
came into the Cholmondeley family. Lord Cholmondeley died at age 77 in April 1827; and he was succeeded in his lands, estates and titles by his eldest son George
George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley
George Horatio Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley PC , styled Viscount Malpas from 1792 to 1815 and subsequently Earl of Rocksavage to 1827 was a British peer and Lord Great Chamberlain of England between 1838 and 1870...
. Lady Cholmondeley died in 1838.
External links
- Houghton Hall
- Cholmondeley Castle
- Metropolitan Museum of ArtMetropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
: Oil painting of Mrs. Grace Dalrymple Elliott by Thomas Gainsborough (British, 1727–1788), which was "apparently commissioned by her lover, the first Marquess of Cholmondeley, and was exhibited at the Academy in 1778."