Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Encyclopedia
Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos KG
, GCH
, PC, FSA
(11 February 1797 – 29 July 1861), styled Earl Temple between 1813 and 1822 and Marquess of Chandos between 1822 and 1839, was a British Tory politician. He served as Lord Privy Seal
between 1841 and 1842.
Two events in his life were remarkable, given the era he lived in and the position he held in society as a duke: firstly, he obtained a divorce at a time when that required an act of parliament; secondly, despite the great wealth he was born to, he declared bankrupcy with debts of over a million pounds in 1847.
, Buckinghamshire
, Buckingham was the son of Richard Temple-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, and Lady Anne, daughter of James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
. He was a grandson of George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
and a great-grandson of Prime Minister George Grenville
. He was educated at Eton
and Oriel College, Oxford.
for Buckinghamshire
between 1818 and 1839, when he succeeded his father in the dukedom and entered the House of Lords
. Two years later, in September 1841, he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Lord Privy Seal
by Sir Robert Peel, a post he only held until February 1842. He was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Hanoverian Order
in 1835, elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1840 and made a Knight of the Garter
in 1842.
in August-September 1848, one of the handful of most prominent English country house contents auctions
of the 19th century.
In 1819, Buckingham married Lady Mary, daughter of John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane
, in 1819. They had one son and one daughter, but were divorced in 1850. At that time, divorce required an Act of Parliament. Buckingham died at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington
, London
, in July 1861, aged 64, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his only son, Richard
. His sometime wife died less than a year later in June 1862, aged 66.
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...
, GCH
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
, PC, 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...
(11 February 1797 – 29 July 1861), styled Earl Temple between 1813 and 1822 and Marquess of Chandos between 1822 and 1839, was a British Tory politician. He served as Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
between 1841 and 1842.
Two events in his life were remarkable, given the era he lived in and the position he held in society as a duke: firstly, he obtained a divorce at a time when that required an act of parliament; secondly, despite the great wealth he was born to, he declared bankrupcy with debts of over a million pounds in 1847.
Background and education
Born at Stowe HouseStowe House
Stowe House is a Grade I listed country house located in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England. It is the home of Stowe School, an independent school. The gardens , a significant example of the English Landscape Garden style, along with part of the Park, passed into the ownership of The National Trust...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, Buckingham was the son of Richard Temple-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, and Lady Anne, daughter of James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos PC , styled Marquess of Carnarvon from 1744 to 1771, was a British peer and politician.-Background:...
. He was a grandson of George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham, KG, PC was a British statesman. He was the second son of George Grenville and a brother of the 1st Baron Grenville.-Career:...
and a great-grandson of Prime Minister George Grenville
George Grenville
George Grenville was a British Whig statesman who rose to the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain. Grenville was born into an influential political family and first entered Parliament in 1741 as an MP for Buckingham...
. 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 Oriel College, Oxford.
Political career
Buckingham sat as Member of ParliamentMember 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 Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckinghamshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a 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 1885.Its most prominent member was...
between 1818 and 1839, when he succeeded his father in the dukedom 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....
. Two years later, in September 1841, he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
by Sir Robert Peel, a post he only held until February 1842. He was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Hanoverian Order
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
in 1835, elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
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...
in 1840 and made 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 1842.
Personal life
In 1847, eight years after succeeding his father as Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, George was declared bankrupt with debts over a million pounds. This occasioned the auction sale of the contents of Stowe HouseStowe House
Stowe House is a Grade I listed country house located in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England. It is the home of Stowe School, an independent school. The gardens , a significant example of the English Landscape Garden style, along with part of the Park, passed into the ownership of The National Trust...
in August-September 1848, one of the handful of most prominent English country house contents auctions
English country house contents auctions
English country house contents auctions are usually held on site at the country house, and have been used to raise funds for their owners, usually before selling the house and estate...
of the 19th century.
In 1819, Buckingham married Lady Mary, daughter of John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane
John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane
Lieutenant-General John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane FRS , known as John Campbell until 1782 and as The Earl of Breadalbane and Holland between 1782 and 1831, was a Scottish soldier and landowner....
, in 1819. They had one son and one daughter, but were divorced in 1850. At that time, divorce required an Act of Parliament. Buckingham died at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, 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...
, in July 1861, aged 64, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his only son, Richard
Richard Temple-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Richard Plantagenet Campbell Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos GCSI, PC , styled Earl Temple until 1839 and Marquess of Chandos from 1839 to 1861, was a British soldier, politician and administrator of the 19th century...
. His sometime wife died less than a year later in June 1862, aged 66.