George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield
Encyclopedia
George Henry Lee I, 2nd Earl of Lichfield
(12 March 1690 – 15 February 1743) was the sixth son of Edward Henry Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield
and his wife Charlotte Fitzroy
, an illegitimate daughter of Charles II
by his mistress
, the celebrated courtesan Barbara Villiers
. On 14 July 1716 George Henry Lee succeeded his father as the 2nd Earl of Lichfield.
and created a D.C.L.
of Oxford
on 19 August 1732. He was Custos Brevium in the Court of Common Pleas
, as well as a Governor of the Foundling Hospital
as of 7 August 1739. In 1722 he built the Oxfordshire
Stately home
, Ditchley
, designed by James Gibbs
. In 1719 he was one of main subscribers in the Royal Academy of Music (1719), a corporation that produced baroque opera on stage.
, of Woodchurch
, co. Kent; with whom he had issue.
Lichfield died on 15 February 1743 in Spelsbury
. He was succeeded by his son and namesake
, George Henry Lee II
.
Earls died without issue so Lichfield's estate eventually reverted to his eldest surviving daughter, Lady Charlotte Lee. In 1744 the Lady Charlotte had married the 11th Viscount Dillon
. Their son Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon
inherited the estate of Ditchley but not the title. Ditchley remained the home of the Viscounts Dillon
until 1934.
The title was created for a third time when Thomas Anson was created Earl of Lichfield in the 1831 coronation
honors of William IV
.
Earl of Lichfield
Earl of Lichfield is a title that has been created three times in British history. Lord Bernard Stewart, youngest son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was to be created Earl of Lichfield by Charles I for his actions at the battles of Newbury and Naseby but died before the creation could...
(12 March 1690 – 15 February 1743) was the sixth son of Edward Henry Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield
Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield
Sir Edward Henry Lee, 5th Baronet, of Ditchley and of Quarendon, created 1st Earl of Lichfield was an English peer. He was a staunch tory and followed James II to Rochester, Kent after the king's escape from Whitehall in December 1688...
and his wife Charlotte Fitzroy
Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield
Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield , formerly Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, was the illegitimate daughter of King Charles II of England by one of his most notorious mistresses, Barbara Villiers, 1st Duchess of Cleveland-Family:She was the fourth child and second daughter of Barbara Palmer née Villiers,...
, an illegitimate daughter of 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...
by his mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
, the celebrated courtesan Barbara Villiers
Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland
Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland was an English courtesan and perhaps the most notorious of the many mistresses of King Charles II of England, by whom she had five children, all of which were acknowledged and subsequently ennobled...
. On 14 July 1716 George Henry Lee succeeded his father as the 2nd Earl of Lichfield.
Titles
- Hon.The HonourableThe prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
George Henry Lee, 1690 – 1713; - Viscount QuarendonLee Baronets- Lee Baronets, of Quarendon, Buckinghamshire :This branch of the family owned Ditchley House, current home of the Ditchley Foundation. The last male heir of the Lees of Quarendon, was the 4th Earl of Lichfield Robert Lee, a grandson of Charles II...
, 1713 – 1716; - 2nd Earl of LichfieldEarl of LichfieldEarl of Lichfield is a title that has been created three times in British history. Lord Bernard Stewart, youngest son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was to be created Earl of Lichfield by Charles I for his actions at the battles of Newbury and Naseby but died before the creation could...
, 14 July 1716 – death.
Accomplishments
The 2nd Earl of Lichfield was educated at St John's College, OxfordSt John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
and created a D.C.L.
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
on 19 August 1732. He was Custos Brevium in the Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
, as well as a Governor of the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
as of 7 August 1739. In 1722 he built the Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
Stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
, Ditchley
Ditchley
Ditchley is a country house and estate about northeast of Charlbury in Oxfordshire.-Archaeology:There are remains of a Roman villa on the Ditchley Park estate at Watts Wells, less than southeast of the house...
, designed by James Gibbs
James Gibbs
James Gibbs was one of Britain's most influential architects. Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised mainly in England...
. In 1719 he was one of main subscribers in the Royal Academy of Music (1719), a corporation that produced baroque opera on stage.
Marriage and Issue
He married Frances Hales (d. 3 February 1769), daughter of Sir John Hales, Bart.Hales Baronets
The Hales Baronetcy, is a title in the Baronetage of England. There were three Hales baronetcies. The oldest was created in 1611 for Edward Hales. He was a member of a Kent family. The second was created in 1660 for Robert Hales, MP for Hythe 1659, also of a Kent family. The third was created in...
, of Woodchurch
Woodchurch, Kent
Woodchurch is a village and civil parish, 7 miles from the market town of Ashford and from the Cinque Ports town of Tenterden, in Kent, South East England....
, co. Kent; with whom he had issue.
- George HenryGeorge Lee, 3rd Earl of LichfieldGeorge Henry Lee II, 3rd Earl of Lichfield PC was a British politician and peer. He was made a Privy Councillor and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1762, holding both honors until death...
(21 May 1718 – 19 September 1772); his successor - Charles Henry (c. 1719 – 1740)
- Frances (21 January 1724 – 29 January 1761)
- Frances (16 December 1721 – 1723)
- Edward Henry (c. 1723 – 1742)
- Charlotte (c. 1724 – 11 June 1794); m. to Henry, eleventh Viscount DillonHenry Dillon, 11th Viscount DillonHenry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen was an English peer.Henry's father was the Hon. Arthur Dillon , a son of the 7th Viscount, who was Colonel and founder of the Dillon Regiment in 1688...
. - Henriette (1726 – 30 April 1752); John, Lord BellewBaron BellewBaron Bellew, of Barmeath in the County of Louth, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 17 July 1848 for Sir Patrick Bellew, 7th Baronet, who had previously represented Louth in the House of Commons as a Whig and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Louth...
- Mary (born c. 1728); m. to Cosmo Neville, esq.
- Anne (1731 – 9 December 1802); m. to Hugh, fifth Lord Clifford of ChudleighBaron Clifford of ChudleighBaron Clifford of Chudleigh, of Chudleigh in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1672 for Thomas Clifford...
.
Lichfield died on 15 February 1743 in Spelsbury
Spelsbury
Spelsbury is a village and civil parish about north of Charlbury and about southeast of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Spelsbury stands on a narrow hill between the Coldron and Taston brooks overlooking the River Evenlode and the ancient Wychwood Forest to the north.-History:The toponym is...
. He was succeeded by his son and namesake
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
, George Henry Lee II
George Lee, 3rd Earl of Lichfield
George Henry Lee II, 3rd Earl of Lichfield PC was a British politician and peer. He was made a Privy Councillor and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1762, holding both honors until death...
.
End of the Line
The 3rd and 4thRobert Lee, 4th Earl of Lichfield
Robert Lee, 4th Earl of Lichfield was an uncle of the 3rd Earl, George Henry Lee II. He was a son of Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield and his wife Charlotte Fitzroy, an illegitimate daughter of Charles II....
Earls died without issue so Lichfield's estate eventually reverted to his eldest surviving daughter, Lady Charlotte Lee. In 1744 the Lady Charlotte had married the 11th Viscount Dillon
Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon
Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen was an English peer.Henry's father was the Hon. Arthur Dillon , a son of the 7th Viscount, who was Colonel and founder of the Dillon Regiment in 1688...
. Their son Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon
Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon
Charles Dillon-Lee, 12th Viscount Dillon, KP, PC was Member of Parliament for the English borough of Westbury ....
inherited the estate of Ditchley but not the title. Ditchley remained the home of the Viscounts Dillon
Viscount Dillon
Viscount Dillon, of Costello-Gallen in the County of Mayo, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1622 for Theobald Dillon, Lord President of Connaught. The Dillons were an Hiberno-Norman landlord family from the 13th century in a part of County Westmeath was called 'Dillon's...
until 1934.
The title was created for a third time when Thomas Anson was created Earl of Lichfield in the 1831 coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
honors of William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
.
See also
- Lee BaronetsLee Baronets- Lee Baronets, of Quarendon, Buckinghamshire :This branch of the family owned Ditchley House, current home of the Ditchley Foundation. The last male heir of the Lees of Quarendon, was the 4th Earl of Lichfield Robert Lee, a grandson of Charles II...
of Quarendon, Buckinghamshire 1611–1776