Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
Victoria | |
---|---|
Prime Minister | Lord John Russell |
Preceded by | The Earl Fortescue |
Succeeded by | The Duke of Montrose |
Personal details | |
Born | Millbank House, Whig | 27 January 1795
Spouse | Lady Elizabeth Leveson-Gower |
Children | Eleanor Percy, Duchess of Northumberland Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield Gilbert Grosvenor Elizabeth Lawley, Baroness Wenlock Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster Lady Evelyn Grosvenor Caroline Leigh, Baroness Leigh Lady Octavia Shaw-Stewart Lady Agnes Campbell Lord Gilbert Grosvenor Jane Pennington, Baroness Muncaster Richard Grosvenor, 1st Baron Stalbridge Lady Theodora Guest |
Parent(s) | Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster Lady Eleanor Egerton |
Residence(s) | Eaton Hall, Cheshire; Grosvenor House, London |
Alma mater | Westminster School Christ Church, Oxford |
Occupation | Landowner, politician |
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
Background and education
Grosvenor was born at
Political and public life
In 1818 Grosvenor was elected as
Development of the estate
Grosvenor "devoted himself ... to the improvement of his London property",
Personality and personal interests
Grosvenor continued the family interest in horse racing[1] and, when he was living in the country estate, he spent time hunting and fishing.[2] He gave generously to charity, and built and restored churches.[1] He was an early patron of the Chester architect John Douglas.[10] In 1865–66 Douglas designed St John's Church for him in his estate village of Aldford.[8] About the same time, Grosvenor gave fields in Chester to the city council for the formation of Grosvenor Park.[11] For this park Douglas designed a number of items, including the Entrance Lodge, the gates, and a cover for Billy Hobby's Well.[8] In 1865 the citizens of Chester began to raise money for the erection of a statue "to mark the public and private worth of his lordship, and the high estimation in which he is held by his neighbours and tenants, as well as by all classes of the community". Over £5,000 (equivalent to £510,000 as of 2021)[12] was raised. The statue showing the marquess in his Garter robes was designed by Thomas Thornycroft, and erected in 1869; it still stands in Grosvenor Park.[11]
Grosvenor's parents had instilled "high moral principles" in their children, and these stayed with Richard throughout his life.[2] He has been described as "of austere character and unswerving devotion to duty as family man, politician and landlord".[6] His obituary in The Times says "he administered his vast estate with a combination of intelligence and generosity not often witnessed".[1]
Family
Lord Westminster married Lady Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, younger daughter of
Lord Westminster and his wife had thirteen children, ten of whom survived into adulthood and three of whom lived into their nineties.[2] Their second son Hugh Lupus Grosvenor succeeded him as 3rd Marquess; he was later created Duke of Westminster.[1] Their youngest son Lord Richard Grosvenor was ennobled as Baron Stalbridge.[13]
- Lady Eleanor Grosvenor (22 October 1820 – 4 May 1911); m. Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland.
- Lady Mary Grosvenor (2 December 1821 – 2 January 1912); m. Thomas Parker, 6th Earl of Macclesfield.
- The Hon. Gilbert Grosvenor (10 April 1823 – 2 January 1824).
- Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor (9 July 1824 – 16 December 1899), married Beilby Lawley, 2nd Baron Wenlock.
- Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster (13 October 1825 – 22 December 1899).
- Lady Evelyn Grosvenor (16 December 1826 – 25 January 1839).
- Lady Caroline Grosvenor (14 June 1828 – 24 March 1906); m. William Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh.
- Lady Octavia Grosvenor (22 September 1829 – 29 May 1921); m. Col. Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart, 7th Baronet.
- Lady Agnes Grosvenor (24 January 1831 – 22 January 1909); m. Sir Archibald Campbell, 3rd Baronet.
- Lord Gilbert Grosvenor (6 January 1833 – 20 March 1854).
- Lady Jane Grosvenor (29 August 1834 – 13 July 1921); m. firstly, Gamel Pennington, 4th Baron Muncaster; m. secondly, Hugh Lindsay.
- Richard Grosvenor, 1st Baron Stalbridge (28 January 1837 – 18 May 1912).[14]
- Lady Theodora Grosvenor (7 July 1840 – 24 March 1924); writer m. Thomas Merthyr Guest.[15]
Lord Westminster died at Fonthill House, Fonthill Gifford in Wiltshire on 31 October 1869 after a short illness and was buried in the family vault in St Mary's Church, Eccleston, Cheshire. His wealth at death is recorded as being under £800,000 (equivalent to £78,620,000 as of 2021).[1][12] Lady Westminster died in 1891 and was buried in St. Mary's Churchyard in Motcombe, Dorset, England expressly stating in her will the desire to be buried there among her relatives.
Memorials
References
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Retrieved on 18 April 2010. (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- ^ ISBN 0-9543379-0-5
- ^ London Gazette, 26 March 1850, p. 907, retrieved 19 April 2010
- ^ London Gazette, 10 July 1857, p. 2405, retrieved 19 April 2010
- ^ Eaton Halls. Eaton Estate. 2002. p. 4.
- ^ a b Hubbard 1991, p. 59.
- ^ Hubbard 1991, p. 60.
- ^ a b c Hubbard 1991, p. 239.
- ^ Historic England. "Town Hall (1108741)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ Hubbard 1991, p. 28.
- ^ a b Information Sheet: Grosvenor Park, Cheshire West and Chester, archived from the original on 16 July 2011, retrieved 18 April 2010
- ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ Children of Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster and Lady Elizabeth Mary Leveson-Gower, Darryl Lundy thePeerage.com, retrieved 19 April 2010
- ^ "Descendants of Henry VIII, King of England, gen 10, 240-259". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/59926. Retrieved 29 September 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Burton-Page, Tony (September 2010). "For the health of the community". Dorset Life. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Fountain on east side of junction with Avery Farm Row (1265617)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
Sources
- ISBN 0-901657-16-6