George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick facts for kids
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (born September 16, 1746 – died 1816), was an important British nobleman and politician. Before he became an Earl in 1773, people called him Lord Greville. He was also a member of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries of London, which are groups for smart people who study science and history.
George Greville was the oldest son of Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick. He was born at Warwick Castle in England. When he was baptized, King George II himself was there as his sponsor.
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Learning and Growing Up
George Greville went to Eton College from 1753 to 1754. This is a famous school in England. Later, he studied at Christ Church at the University of Oxford in 1764. He also studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
People at the time said that his father paid a lot of attention to his education. His father wanted him to learn good morals and how to be a good leader. When George came back from Scotland, he was very well-informed and mature. People thought he would become very important. Even after traveling, he remained a quiet and kind person. He was mostly known by people who enjoyed art and had good values.
Starting His Career
George Greville became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1767. This means he was recognized for his interest in science. In 1768, he also joined the Society of Antiquaries, a group that studies old things and history.
From 1768 to 1773, he was a Member of Parliament for Warwick. This meant he helped make laws for the country. In 1770, he was also chosen to be part of the Board of Trade, which dealt with business and trade.
Family Life
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In 1771, George Greville married Georgiana Peachey. They had one son:
- George Greville, Lord Brooke (born 1772 – died 1786)
Sadly, Lady Greville passed away when she was only 19 years old.
In 1776, George Greville married Henrietta Vernon. They had four children:
- Henry Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick (1779–1853)
- Maj.-Gen. Sir Charles John Greville (1780-1836)
- Lady Henrietta Louisa Greville (1785 – 1838)
- Lady Augusta Sophia Greville (1787 - 1845)
As an Earl
In 1773, George Greville became the Earl of Warwick after his father passed away. This meant he inherited his father's title and left his job in the House of Commons. He also left the Board of Trade in 1774. However, he continued to serve as a judge (called a recorder) for Warwick from 1773 until his death.
In 1795, he became a colonel in the Warwickshire Fencibles, a type of local army. That same year, he was also made the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. This was a very important role, representing the King or Queen in the county. He held this position until he died in London in 1816. He was buried in Warwick.
Art Collector and Supporter
George Greville was very important in building the famous Greville Collection at Warwick Castle. One of his biggest purchases was the amazing Warwick Vase. He bought it from his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, around 1778. He filled the Castle with many ancient artworks.
However, he was most interested in portraits. He collected many paintings by famous artists like Sir Peter Paul Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dyck. Many of these paintings are still at Warwick Castle today. An inventory from 1809 shows how many different types of pictures he owned.
He also supported artists. He helped an artist named John Higton. It is thought that George Greville's brother, Charles Francis Greville, introduced them. Higton painted pictures of Warwick Castle and dogs belonging to George Greville and his family. This shows how close Higton was to the family.
George Greville was also the first important person to support the painter George Romney. He asked Romney to paint several portraits of his children and his two wives. George Greville likely encouraged Romney to travel to Italy in 1772 to find more art. Romney's brother, Charles Francis Greville, also had his portrait painted by Romney and introduced the artist to his famous friend, Emma Hamilton. George Greville even offered Romney a studio in one of the towers of Warwick Castle, but the artist preferred to stay in London.
See also
- Earl of Warwick
- List of owners of Warwick Castle
