George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton
George Henry FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton, KG (14 January 1760 – 28 September 1844), styled Earl of Euston until 1811, was a British peer and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1782 to 1811 when he succeeded to the Dukedom.
The Duke of Grafton
28 September 1844 (aged 84)
Euston, Suffolk, England
- Lady Mary Oglander
- Lady Georgiana FitzRoy
- Lady Elizabeth Smyth
- Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton
- Lord Charles FitzRoy
- Lady Isabella St. John
- Lord William FitzRoy
- Lord Hugh FitzRoy
- Lord Richard FitzRoy
- Lord Richard FitzRoy
- Lord James FitzRoy
Early life[edit]
Euston was the son of Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, and his wife, Anne Lidell.[1] He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge,[2] where he became a close friend of the William Pitt the Younger. He married Lady Charlotte Maria Waldegrave (1761–1808), daughter of James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave, on 16 November 1784 at Navestock, Essex.
Political career[edit]
From 1782 to 1784, Euston was Member of Parliament for Thetford, and in 1784, he and Pitt were elected as MPs for Cambridge University. Euston held that seat until he succeeded his father in the dukedom in 1811.[3] Euston used his position in parliament to advocate for Britain having friendly relations with the newly created United States.[4]
He succeeded his father as Colonel of the West Suffolk Militia on 2 June 1780 at the age of 20 and retained the command until 1808.[5][6] He was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Northamptonshire on 9 May 1803.[7][8] He also succeeded his father as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk on 3 July 1790.
He was appointed a Knight of the Garter (K.G.) in 1834.
Grafton died on 28 September 1844 and was succeeded by his son Henry. He and his wife Charlotte had eleven children: