Regency Personalities Series-John Ashburnham 2nd Earl of Ashburnham

Regency Personalities Series
In my attempts to provide us with the details of the Regency, today I continue with one of the many period notables.

John Ashburnham 2nd Earl of Ashburnham
30 October 1724 – 8 April 1812

John Ashburnham

John Ashburnham 2nd Earl of Ashburnham was the only son of John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham, by his third wife, Jemima Grey, the daughter of the courtier Duke of Kent. In 1737, he inherited his father’s titles and became a Lord of the Bedchamber in 1748.

On 25 June 1756, Ashburnham married Elizabeth Crawley (1727–1781), a daughter and co-heiress of Alderman John Crawley (or Crowley), of Barking, a wealthy London merchant, and a son of Sir Ambrose Crowley. Her dowry was £200,000 (That would be an exceedingly great sum of value from 10 Million to 400 million-a fortune as great as Mr. Darcy, surely).

Elizabeth’s mother was Theodosia, daughter of Revd. Joseph Gascoygne. They had six children:

• Lady Henrietta Theodosia (1750–1847), died unmarried.
• George, styled Viscount St Asaph (1758–1758)
• George, styled Viscount St Asaph (1760–1830), later 3rd Earl of Ashburnham
• Lady Jemima Elizabeth (1762–1786), married James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose.
• Lady Elizabeth Frances (1763–1854), died unmarried.
• Lady Theodosia Maria (1765–1822), married Robert Vyner.

From 1753 to 1762, Ashburnham was Keeper of Hyde Park and St. James’s Park and Lord Lieutenant of Sussex from 1754 to 1757. In 1765, he was appointed Master of the Great Wardrobe, and Groom of the Stole in 1775.

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Regency Personalities Series-James Graham 4th Duke of Montrose

Regency Personalities Series
In my attempts to provide us with the details of the Regency, today I continue with one of the many period notables.

James Graham 4th Duke of Montrose
16 July 1799 – 30 December 1874

James Graham

James Graham 4th Duke of Montrose was the son of James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose, by his second wife Lady Caroline Marie, daughter of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.

A member of Marylebone Cricket Club, Montrose made a single first-class appearance for an All-England team against Hampshire in 1828. He was recorded in the scorecard as Lord James Graham and scored two runs.

In 1821, aged 21, Montrose was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, despite not having a seat in parliament, and was sworn of the Privy Council the same year. He remained as Vice-Chamberlain until 1827. He was returned to Parliament for Cambridge in 1825, a seat he held until 1832, and served as a Commissioner of the India Board between 1828 and 1830. In 1836 he succeeded his father in the dukedom and entered the House of Lords.

When the Earl of Derby became Prime Minister in February 1852, Montrose was appointed Lord Steward of the Household, a post he retained until the government fell in December of the same year. He again served under Derby as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 1858 and 1859 and under Derby and later Benjamin Disraeli as Postmaster General between 1866 and 1868, although he was never a member of the cabinet. As Postmaster-General he introduced the Electric Telegraphs Bill which resulted in the transfer of British telegraph companies to the Post Office.

Apart from his political career Montrose served as Chancellor of the University of Glasgow between 1837 and 1874 (succeeding his father) and as Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire between 1843 and 1874. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1845.

Montrose married the Hon. Caroline Agnes, daughter of John Horsley-Beresford, 2nd Baron Decies, in 1836. They had several children. He died in December 1874, aged 75, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, Douglas, Marquess of Graham. The Duchess of Montrose later remarried and died in November 1894.

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Regency Personalities Series-James Graham 3rd Duke of Montrose

Regency Personalities Series
In my attempts to provide us with the details of the Regency, today I continue with one of the many period notables.

James Graham 3rd Duke of Montrose
8 September 1755 – 30 December 1836

Montrose was the son of William Graham, 2nd Duke of Montrose, and Lady Lucy, daughter of John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland.

Montrose was Member of Parliament for Richmond from 1780, and for Great Bedwyn from 1784 to 1790, when he succeeded his father in the dukedom. According to Robert Bain, Scotland can thank him for the repeal in 1782 of the Act of 1747 prohibiting the wearing of tartans. He served as a Lord of the Treasury from 1783 to 1789, and as co-Paymaster of the Forces from 1789 to 1791. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor and Vice-President of the Board of Trade in 1789. He was Master of the Horse from 1790 to 1795, and from 1807 to 1821, Commissioner for India from 1791 to 1803, Lord Justice General of Scotland from 1795 to 1836, President of the Board of Trade from 1804 to 1806, Lord Chamberlain from 1821 to 1827 and from 1828 to 1830.

He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1793, resigning from the Order when appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1812. He was Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 1780 to 1836, Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire from 1790 to 1793, Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire from 1795 until his death, and Lord Lieutenant of Dumbartonshire from 1813 until his death.

Graham was a very effective member of the House of Commons, especially when speaking on Scottish topics. Early in his career as a Minister under William Pitt the Younger, Graham was attacked in the Rolliad.

Montrose was twice married. He married firstly Lady Jemima Elizabeth, daughter of John Ashburnham, 2nd Earl of Ashburnham, in 1785. After her death in September 1786, aged 24 (following the death of a son, who died as an infant), he married secondly Lady Caroline Maria, daughter of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, in 1790. They had several children. Montrose died in December 1836, aged 81, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, James. The Duchess of Montrose died in March 1847, aged 76.

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