George Boscawen, 3rd Viscount Falmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount Falmouth
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George Boscawen in 1784 by George Romney
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| Born | 6 May 1758 Admiralty House, Westminster |
| Died | 11 May 1808 (aged 50) Penkivel, Cornwall |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of England Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Royal Horse Guards |
George Boscawen, the 3rd Viscount Falmouth, was an important British army officer and politician. He lived in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He served King George III and held a special role as the Captain of the King's Bodyguard.
Life as a British Officer and Politician
George Boscawen was born on May 6, 1758. He was the youngest son of Admiral Edward Boscawen. In 1774, when he was 16, George joined the British Army. He started as a cornet, which was a junior officer rank. Over time, he worked his way up and became a colonel in 1795.
While he was serving in the army, something big happened in his family. In 1782, his uncle passed away. This meant George inherited the title of Viscount Falmouth. With this title, he also gained a seat in the House of Lords. This is a very important part of the British Parliament.
From 1789 to 1790, George Boscawen served as a chief justice. This role was called Justice in Eyre North of Trent. It meant he was a top judge for a large area in England. After this, he was given an even more important job. He became the Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. This group was the King's personal bodyguard. He held this position for many years, from 1790 to 1806, and again from 1807 until his death in 1808. At the same time, he also became a privy councillor. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the King.
George Boscawen's Family Life
On June 29, 1784, Viscount Falmouth married Elizabeth Anne Crew. They had three children together:
- Edward Boscawen, who later became the 1st Earl of Falmouth (born 1787, died 1841)
- John Evelyn Boscawen (born 1790, died 1851), who became a church leader at Canterbury Cathedral
- Anne Evelyn Boscawen (born 1791, died 1871)
Sadly, George's wife, Elizabeth, passed away on August 10, 1793. When George Boscawen died in 1808, his oldest son, Edward, inherited his titles and family estate.
Viscount Falmouth in Fiction
Lord Falmouth is a character in the famous Poldark novels by Winston Graham. In these books, he is shown as the most powerful political figure in Cornwall. He uses his influence to control elections and help people get important jobs.
In the books, Lord Falmouth is described as a bit distant and proud. However, he also shows kindness and friendship to others. If you've seen the Poldark TV series from 2015, you might recognize him! The actor James Wilby played the role of Lord Falmouth in the show.
