George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry
Encyclopedia
George William Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry PC
(9 May 1838 – 13 March 1930), styled Viscount Deerhurst until 1843, was a British
Conservative
politician. He was Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms
between 1877 and 1880 and again between 1885 and 1886 as well as Master of the Horse
between 1886 and 1892 and again between 1895 and 1901.
, London
, the son of George William Coventry, Viscount Deerhurst, eldest son of George Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry
. His mother was Harriett Anne, daughter of Sir Charles Cockerell, 1st Baronet. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
.
and served as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms under the Earl of Beaconsfield from 1877 to 1880 and under Lord Salisbury
from 1885 to 1886 and under Salisbury as Master of the Buckhounds
from 1886 to 1892 and again from 1895 to 1900. In 1877 he was admitted to the Privy Council. From 1921 until his death in 1930 he was Father of the House of Lords.
Coventry was also Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire
from 1891 to 1903. Apart from his political career he was also involved in horseracing. His racing colours were brown with blue cap and were carried to victory in consecutive Grand National
s by the half sisters Emblem, 1863, and Emblematic, 1864. In 1899 he was President of the Royal Agricultural Society
.
, on 25 January 1865. They had six sons and three daughters. He died on 13 March 1930, aged 91, and was succeeded in the earldom by his grandson George, the son of George William Coventry, Viscount Deerhurst. His second son the Hon. Charles Coventry was a soldier and successful cricketer
. Lady Coventry survived her husband by only three days and died on 16 March 1930, aged 87. His daughter, Lady Anne Coventry was married to Prince Victor Duleep Singh
, the eldest son of Maharaja Duleep Singh
.
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...
(9 May 1838 – 13 March 1930), styled Viscount Deerhurst until 1843, 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...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He was Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms
The Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms is a UK government post since 1945 held by the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords. Prior to 17 March 1834, the Gentlemen-at-Arms were known as the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners....
between 1877 and 1880 and again between 1885 and 1886 as well as 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 :...
between 1886 and 1892 and again between 1895 and 1901.
Background and education
Coventry was born at Wilton CrescentWilton Crescent
Wilton Crescent is a wealthy community in Belgravia, London.Wilton Crescent was created by Thomas Cundy II, the Grosvenor family Estate surveyor and was drawn up with the original 1821 Wyatt plan for Belgravia...
, 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...
, the son of George William Coventry, Viscount Deerhurst, eldest son of George Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry
George Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry
George William Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry , known as Viscount Deerhurst from 1809 to 1831, was a British peer and Tory Member of Parliament....
. His mother was Harriett Anne, daughter of Sir Charles Cockerell, 1st Baronet. 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
Coventry sat on the Conservative benches in 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....
and served as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms under the Earl of Beaconsfield from 1877 to 1880 and under Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
from 1885 to 1886 and under Salisbury as Master of the Buckhounds
Master of the Buckhounds
The Master of the Buckhounds was an officer in the Master of the Horse's department of the British Royal Household. The holder was also His/Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot. It was a political office, so the holder, who was always a nobleman, changed with every change of government. The office...
from 1886 to 1892 and again from 1895 to 1900. In 1877 he was admitted to the Privy Council. From 1921 until his death in 1930 he was Father of the House of Lords.
Coventry was also Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire
Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. Since 1719, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Worcestershire.-Lord Lieutenants of Worcestershire to 1974:...
from 1891 to 1903. Apart from his political career he was also involved in horseracing. His racing colours were brown with blue cap and were carried to victory in consecutive Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
s by the half sisters Emblem, 1863, and Emblematic, 1864. In 1899 he was President of the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
.
Family
Lord Coventry married Lady Blanche, daughter of William Craven, 2nd Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven
William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven , styled Viscount Uffington until 1825, was a British peer.He inherited the earldom in 1825 from his father, William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven...
, on 25 January 1865. They had six sons and three daughters. He died on 13 March 1930, aged 91, and was succeeded in the earldom by his grandson George, the son of George William Coventry, Viscount Deerhurst. His second son the Hon. Charles Coventry was a soldier and successful cricketer
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. Lady Coventry survived her husband by only three days and died on 16 March 1930, aged 87. His daughter, Lady Anne Coventry was married to Prince Victor Duleep Singh
Victor Duleep Singh
Prince Victor Albert Jay Duleep Singh was the eldest son of Maharani Bamba Müller and Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of Lahore, and of the Sikh Empire, and the grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh .-Biography:...
, the eldest son of Maharaja Duleep Singh
Duleep Singh
This article is about Maharaja Dalip Singh. For other uses, see Dalip SinghMaharaja Dalip Singh, GCSI , commonly called Duleep Singh and later in life nicknamed the Black Prince of Perthshire, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire...
.