George William Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton (31 March 1817 – 19 April 1876), 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...

 aristocrat and 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.

Early life

Lyttelton was the eldest son of William Henry Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton, and Lady Sarah Spencer

Sarah Lyttelton, Baroness Lyttelton

Sarah Lyttelton, Baroness Lyttelton was a British courtier, governess to Edward VII of the United Kingdom and wife of William Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton....

, daughter of George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer. 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 Trinity College, Cambridge

Trinity College, Cambridge

Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...

. He succeeded his father as fourth Baron Lyttelton in 1837 and took his seat in 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....

 on his 21st birthday a year later.

Political career

In January 1846 he was appointed Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

The Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies....

 in the Conservative government

Conservative Government 1841-1846

Sir Robert Peel's second government came to power in 1841 after the Conservative victory in the General Election caused the Whig government of Lord Melbourne to resign. Henry Goulburn was Chancellor of the Exchequer, the future Prime Minister Lord Aberdeen Foreign Secretary and Sir James Graham...

 of Sir Robert Peel, a post he held until the government fell in June of the same year. Lyttelton 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 1839 to 1876 and the first President of Birmingham and Midland Institute

Birmingham and Midland Institute

The Birmingham and Midland Institute , now on Margaret Street in the city centre of Birmingham, England was a pioneer of adult scientific and technical education and today offers Arts and Science lectures, exhibitions and concerts. It is a registered charity...

 in 1854. Moreover, he founded the region of Canterbury, New Zealand

Canterbury, New Zealand

The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...

 with Anglican colonists. The port of Canterbury bears his name. He was president of the British Chess Association at the time of the Staunton–Morphy controversy in 1858.

Family

Lord Lyttelton married, firstly in 1839, Mary Glynne, daughter of Sir Stephen Glynne, 8th Baronet, and sister-in-law of William Ewart Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...

. They had eight sons and four daughters. His son Edward Lyttelton

Edward Lyttelton

Rev. Hon. Edward Lyttelton was an English sportsman, schoolmaster and clergyman. He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Middlesex as well as representing the England national football team.-Life:...

 became headmaster of Eton, and another son Alfred Lyttelton

Alfred Lyttelton

Alfred Lyttelton QC was a British politician and sportsman who excelled at both football and cricket. During his time at university he participated in Varsity Matches in five sports: cricket , football , athletics , rackets and real tennis , displaying an ability that made him...

 was a sportsman and politician. A daughter, Lucy, married Lord Frederick Cavendish

Lord Frederick Cavendish

Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish was an English Liberal politician and protégé of the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone...

 and the Lucy Cavendish College

Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge

Lucy Cavendish College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is a women-only college, which admits only postgraduates and undergraduates aged 21 or over....

 at Cambridge

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...

 is named after her. Another daughter, Lavinia, married Edward Stuart Talbot

Edward Stuart Talbot

Edward Stuart Talbot was an Anglican bishop in the Church of England and the first Warden of Keble College, Oxford.-Education:...

, an Anglican bishop.

After Mary's death in 1857 Lyttelton married, secondly, Sybella Harriet Clive, daughter of George Clive

George Clive (Liberal politician)

George Clive DL JP was a British barrister, magistrate and Liberal politician.-Background and education:A member of the Clive family headed by the Earl of Powis, George Clive was the son of Edward Clive and great-grandson of Reverend Benjamin Clive, uncle of Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive . His...

 MP, in 1869. They had three daughters, the youngest of whom, Hester Margaret, married Cyril Alington

Cyril Alington

Cyril Argentine Alington was an English educationalist, scholar, cleric, and prolific author. He was the headmaster of both Shrewsbury School and Eton College. He also served as chaplain to King George V and as Dean of Durham....

, also headmaster of Eton, and Dean of Durham.

Lyttelton committed suicide at the age of 59 by throwing himself down the stairs at Hagley Hall

Hagley Hall

Hagley Hall is an 18th century house in Hagley, Worcestershire. It was the creation of George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton , secretary to Frederick, Prince of Wales, poet and man of letters and briefly Chancellor of the Exchequer...

. He was succeeded by his eldest son Charles

Charles Lyttelton, 8th Viscount Cobham

Charles George Lyttelton, 8th Viscount Cobham , known as The Lord Lyttelton from 1876 to 1889, was a British peer and Liberal Member of Parliament.-Biography:...

, who later also inherited the viscounty of Cobham

Viscount Cobham

Viscount Cobham is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 for Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Baron Cobham and 4th Baronet, of Stowe...

. Lady Lyttelton died in 1900.