George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth
Encyclopedia
George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth KG
, PC, FRS (3 October 1755 – 10 November 1810), styled Viscount Lewisham until 1801, was a British politician.
, and Frances Katherine, daughter of Sir Charles Gounter Nicoll. He was the elder brother of Admiral the Hon. Sir Arthur Kaye Legge
and the Hon. Edward Legge
, Bishop of Oxford
.
in 1778, a seat he held until 1780. The latter year he was returned for both Horsham
and Staffordshire
1784, but chose to represent the latter. He continued to represent this constituency until 1784. From 1783 to 1798 he served as Lord Warden of the Stannaries
. He remained out of parliament for the next 17 years, but in 1801 he was summoned to the House of Lords
through a writ of acceleration
in his father's junior title of Baron Dartmouth. He succeeded his father in the earldom later the same year. Dartmouth served under Henry Addington
as President of the Board of Control
between 1801 and 1802 and as Lord Steward
between 1802 and 1804. From 1804 to 1810 he was Lord Chamberlain
under successively Pitt the Younger
, Lord Grenville, the Duke of Portland
and Spencer Perceval
. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1801 and appointed a Knight of the Garter
in 1805. He was also admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 May 1781 and was the first President of the British Institution
in 1805.
, on 24 September 1782. They had twelve children:
Lord Dartmouth died on 10 November 1810, aged 55, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, William
. Lady Dartmouth only survived her husband by eleven days and died on 21 November 1810.
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, FRS (3 October 1755 – 10 November 1810), styled Viscount Lewisham until 1801, was a British politician.
Background
Dartmouth was the eldest son of William Legge, 2nd Earl of DartmouthWilliam Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth
William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth PC, FRS , styled as Viscount Lewisham from 1732 to 1750, was a British statesman who is most remembered for his part in the government before and during the American Revolution....
, and Frances Katherine, daughter of Sir Charles Gounter Nicoll. He was the elder brother of Admiral the Hon. Sir Arthur Kaye Legge
Arthur Kaye Legge
Admiral Sir Arthur Kaye Legge KCB was an officer of the British Royal Navy who served in three wars and commanded ships in several campaigns. Known as a brave officer and an effective commander, Legge was given several very important postings in the latter part of his career as a rear-admiral,...
and the Hon. Edward Legge
Edward Legge (bishop)
Edward Legge was an English churchman and academic, bishop of Oxford from 1816 and Warden of All Souls College, Oxford from 1817.-Life:...
, Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
.
Political career
Dartmouth was returned to Parliament for PlymouthPlymouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Plymouth was a parliamentary borough in Devon, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1298 and again from 1442 until 1918, when the borough was merged with the neighbouring Devonport and the combined area divided into three single-member constituencies.-In the...
in 1778, a seat he held until 1780. The latter year he was returned for both Horsham
Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)
Horsham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
and Staffordshire
Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Staffordshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
1784, but chose to represent the latter. He continued to represent this constituency until 1784. From 1783 to 1798 he served as Lord Warden of the Stannaries
Lord Warden of the Stannaries
The Lord Warden of the Stannaries used to exercise judicial and military functions in Cornwall, United Kingdom, and is still the official who, upon the commission of the monarch or Duke of Cornwall for the time being, has the function of calling a Stannary Parliament of tinners...
. He remained out of parliament for the next 17 years, but in 1801 he was summoned to the House of Lords
House 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....
through a writ of acceleration
Writ of acceleration
A writ in acceleration, commonly called a writ of acceleration, was a type of writ of summons to the British House of Lords that enabled the eldest son and heir apparent of a peer with multiple peerage titles to attend the British House of Lords or Irish House of Lords, using one of his father's...
in his father's junior title of Baron Dartmouth. He succeeded his father in the earldom later the same year. Dartmouth served under Henry Addington
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC was a British statesman, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804....
as President of the Board of Control
President of the Board of Control
The President of the Board of Control was a British government official in the late 18th and early 19th century responsible for overseeing the British East India Company and generally serving as the chief official in London responsible for Indian affairs. The position was frequently a cabinet...
between 1801 and 1802 and as Lord Steward
Lord Steward
The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household, in England, is an important official of the Royal Household. He is always a peer. Until 1924, he was always a member of the Government...
between 1802 and 1804. From 1804 to 1810 he was Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
under successively 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...
, Lord Grenville, 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,...
and 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...
. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1801 and 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...
in 1805. He was also admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 May 1781 and was the first President of the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
in 1805.
Family
Lord Dartmouth married Lady Frances (d. 1810), daughter of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of AylesfordHeneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford
Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford , styled Lord Guernsey between 1719 and 1757, was a British peer and politician.-Background and education:...
, on 24 September 1782. They had twelve children:
- Lady Harriet Legge (d. 11 March 1855), married in 1815 General Hon. Sir Edward PagetEdward PagetGeneral Sir Edward Paget GCB was a British Army officer.-Career:Born the fourth son of Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge, Edward Paget became a cornet in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards in 1792...
, son of Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge and had issue. - William Legge, 4th Earl of DartmouthWilliam Legge, 4th Earl of DartmouthWilliam Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth FRS, SA , styled The Honourable William Legge until 1801 and Viscount Lewisham between 1801 and 1810, was a British peer.-Background:...
(1784–1853) - Lady Louisa Legge (8 March 1787 – 13 August 1816), married William Bagot, 2nd Baron BagotWilliam Bagot, 2nd Baron BagotWilliam Bagot, 2nd Baron Bagot was a British peer.William Bagot was born in London, the eldest son of William Bagot, 1st Baron Bagot, and his second wife Elizabeth Louisa St John. He was educated at Westminster School and matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxford on 10 November 1791. He...
and had issue. - Hon. Henage LeggeHeneage Legge (1788–1844)The Honourable Heneage Legge , was a British Member of Parliament.Legge was the second son of George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth, by Lady Frances, daughter of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford...
(29 February 1788 – 12 December 1844), married Mary Johnstone. - Lady Charlotte Legge (1795 – 15 June 1877), married in 1816 Very Rev. Hon. George Neville-Grenville (Dean of Windsor), son of Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke and had issue.
- Lady Georgina Caroline Legge (c. 1795 – 11 August 1855)
- Lady Mary Legge (c. 1796 – 8 July 1886)
- Lady Anne Legge (c. 1797 – 24 November 1885)
- Hon. Charles Legge (1799–1821)
- General Hon. Arthur Charles LeggeArthur Legge (British Army officer)General The Honourable Arthur Charles Legge DL , was a British soldier and politician.Legge was the fourth son and tenth child of George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth, by Lady Frances, daughter of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford...
(25 June 1800 – 18 May 1890), married first on 1 June 1827 Lady Anne Holroyd (d. 1829), daughter of John Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield, second on 29 August 1837 Caroline Bouwens and had issue. - Lady Barbara Maria Legge (d. 22 April 1840), married in 1820 Francis Parker NewdigateFrancis Parker NewdigateFrancis Parker Newdigate was Lord of the Manor of Kirk Hallam, near Ilkeston, Derbyshire, where the parish church of All Saints displays a memorial window dedicated to his memory...
and had issue - Hon. Henry Legge (1803 – 13 February 1887), vicar of Lewisham, married on 12 May 1842 Maria Rogers (d. 1890), daughter of Sir Frederick Rogers, 7th Baronet.
Lord Dartmouth died on 10 November 1810, aged 55, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, William
William Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth
William Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth FRS, SA , styled The Honourable William Legge until 1801 and Viscount Lewisham between 1801 and 1810, was a British peer.-Background:...
. Lady Dartmouth only survived her husband by eleven days and died on 21 November 1810.