Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford
Encyclopedia
Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford PC, FRS
, FSA
(4 July 1751 – 21 October 1812), styled Lord Guernsey between 1757 and 1777, was a British peer, politician and artist.
, and Lady Charlotte Finch, daughter of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
. He was born at his paternal grandfather's residence, Syon House
, near London
. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
.
in 1772, a seat he held until 1774, and then represented Maidstone
until 1777, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords
. He was a Lord of the Bedchamber
to George III
between 1777 and 1783. The latter year he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
by William Pitt the Younger
. He retained this office until 1804, the last three years under the premiership of Henry Addington
. When Pitt resumed office in 1804, Aylesford was made Lord Steward of the Household
. He continued in this office until his death in 1812, under successively Lord Grenville, the Duke of Portland
and Spencer Perceval
.
Aylesford also held the honorary position of High Steward of Sutton Coldfield
from 1796 until his death.
by the Tate Gallery
.
A. P. Oppe wrote an article giving some background and listing 85 of Aylesford's etchings titled The Fourth Earl of Aylesford. The Print Collector’s Quarterly 1924, Vol 11, p. 263.
Lord Aylesford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1773 and was a trustee of the British Museum
between 1787 and 1812.
, on 18 November 1781. They had twelve children:
Lord Aylesford died at Great Packington
, Warwickshire
, in October 1812, aged 61, from gout
in the stomach. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Heneage. The Countess of Aylesford died in December 1832, aged 72.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(4 July 1751 – 21 October 1812), styled Lord Guernsey between 1757 and 1777, was a British peer, politician and artist.
Background and education
Aylesford was the son 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:...
, and Lady Charlotte Finch, daughter of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset , sometimes referred to as the "Proud Duke". The son of Charles Seymour, 2nd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, and Elizabeth Alington , he succeeded his brother Francis Seymour, 5th Duke of Somerset, to the dukedom when the latter was shot in 1678...
. He was born at his paternal grandfather's residence, Syon House
Syon House
Syon House, with its 200-acre park, is situated in west London, England. It belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is now his family's London residence...
, near 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...
. He was educated at 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
Aylesford was returned to parliament for Castle RisingCastle Rising (UK Parliament constituency)
Castle Rising was a parliamentary borough in Norfolk, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1558 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
in 1772, a seat he held until 1774, and then represented Maidstone
Maidstone (UK Parliament constituency)
Maidstone was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The parliamentary borough of Maidstone returned two Members of Parliament from 1552 until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member...
until 1777, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered 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....
. 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,...
to George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
between 1777 and 1783. The latter year he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
by William 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...
. He retained this office until 1804, the last three years under the premiership of 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....
. When Pitt resumed office in 1804, Aylesford was made Lord Steward of the Household
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...
. He continued in this office until his death in 1812, under successively 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...
.
Aylesford also held the honorary position of High Steward of Sutton Coldfield
High Steward of Sutton Coldfield
The High Steward of Sutton Coldfield was an office relating to the government of the town of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England.-History:...
from 1796 until his death.
Artistic career
Apart from his political career Lord Aylesford was an artist of some repute. Eleven of his paintings, part of the Oppe Collection, are held on behalf of the National MuseumNational museum
A national museum is a museum maintained by a nation.The following is a list of national museums:-Australia:*Australian National Aviation Museum*Australian National Maritime Museum*, Sydney*Australian War Memorial*Museum Victoria...
by the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
.
A. P. Oppe wrote an article giving some background and listing 85 of Aylesford's etchings titled The Fourth Earl of Aylesford. The Print Collector’s Quarterly 1924, Vol 11, p. 263.
Lord Aylesford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1773 and was a trustee of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
between 1787 and 1812.
Family
Lord Aylesford married Lady Louisa Thynne, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of BathThomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath KG was a British politician who held office under George III serving as Southern Secretary, Northern Secretary and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Between 1751 and 1780 he was known as Lord Weymouth...
, on 18 November 1781. They had twelve children:
- Charles Finch, Lord Guernsey (d. 18 July 1784)
- Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of AylesfordHeneage Finch, 5th Earl of AylesfordHeneage Finch, 5th Earl of Aylesford was a British peer, the eldest son of Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford.He was styled Lord Guernsey until he succeeded his father in 1812....
(1786–1859) - Hon. Daniel Finch (25 February 1789 – 17 January 1868), artist.
- Lady Frances Finch (c. 1791 – 12 July 1886), unmarried
- Hon. Edward Finch (1792 – 9 April 1830)
- Lieutenant-General the Hon. John Finch (1793 – 25 November 1861), married in 1835 Katherine Ellice (d. 1872)
- Hon. Henry Finch (1795–1829)
- Lady Charlotte Finch (d. 17 January 1869), married Charles Palmer on 22 January 1823.
- Hon. Charles Finch (b. 1799)
- Lady Mary Finch (d. 24 July 1823)
- Lady Elizabeth Finch (d. 1 June 1879)
- Lady Henrietta Finch (d. 1828)
- Lady Caroline Finch (d. 1821)
Lord Aylesford died at Great Packington
Great Packington
Great Packington is a hamlet near Meriden, Warwickshire. It is the home of the Packington estate, including Packington Hall, Packington Old Hall and St James' Church, Great Packington.To the east of the park lies the hamlet of Outwoods....
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, in October 1812, aged 61, from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
in the stomach. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Heneage. The Countess of Aylesford died in December 1832, aged 72.