George Pitt, 2nd Baron Rivers
Encyclopedia
George Pitt, 2nd Baron Rivers (1751-1828) was a British
politician.
He was the only son of George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers
and his wife Penelope, daughter of Sir Henry Atkins, 4th baronet of Clapham, Surrey. He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament
for Dorset
in 1774, retaining the seat until 1790. In 1803, he succeeded his father as Baron Rivers
. He was a Lord of the Bedchamber
from 1804 to 1819.
He sold part of the family estates, those around Stratfield Saye House
to the nation in about 1814, so that it could be given to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
. On his death in 1828, one of his baronies (Baron Rivers of Stratfieldsaye) became extinct, but the other passed (like his remaining estates) to his brother-in-law William Beckford, who thereupon took the surname Pitt-Rivers.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
politician.
He was the only son of George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers
George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers
George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers was a British diplomat and politician.-Background and education:He born in Geneva, the eldest son of George Pitt of Stratfieldsaye, Hampshire and his wife Mary Louise Bernier from Strasbourg. General Sir William Augustus Pitt was his younger brother...
and his wife Penelope, daughter of Sir Henry Atkins, 4th baronet of Clapham, Surrey. He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Dorset
Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)
Dorset was a county constituency covering Dorset in southern England, which elected two Members of Parliament , traditionally known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of England from 1290 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of...
in 1774, retaining the seat until 1790. In 1803, he succeeded his father as Baron Rivers
Baron Rivers
Baron Rivers was a title that was created four times in British history, twice in the Peerage of England, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in 1299 when John Rivers was summoned to Parliament as Baron Rivers. The title became...
. He was a Lord of the Bedchamber
Lord of the Bedchamber
A Lord of the Bedchamber, previously known as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household of the King of the United Kingdom and the Prince of Wales. A Lord of the Bedchamber's duties consisted of assisting the King with his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,...
from 1804 to 1819.
He sold part of the family estates, those around Stratfield Saye House
Stratfield Saye House
Stratfield Saye House is a large stately home at Stratfield Saye in the north-east of the English county of Hampshire. It has been the home of the Dukes of Wellington since 1817.-Early history:...
to the nation in about 1814, so that it could be given to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. On his death in 1828, one of his baronies (Baron Rivers of Stratfieldsaye) became extinct, but the other passed (like his remaining estates) to his brother-in-law William Beckford, who thereupon took the surname Pitt-Rivers.