George Hardinge facts for kids
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George Hardinge (1743–1816) was an important English judge, writer, and a Member of Parliament. This means he helped make laws for the country. He was known for his cleverness and humor.
Life of George Hardinge
George Hardinge was born on June 22, 1743, in a large house called Canbury, in Kingston upon Thames. He was the third son of Nicholas Hardinge, but the oldest one who lived to adulthood. His mother was Jane, daughter of Sir John Pratt, who was also a judge.
George went to school in Kingston and then to Eton College, a famous school. After that, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He later became a lawyer in 1769. He quickly became very busy with his legal work. One of his friends during this time was the poet Mark Akenside.
In 1776, George Hardinge traveled to France and Switzerland. The next year, on October 20, 1777, he married Lucy Long. They did not have their own children. However, George adopted and raised his nephew, George Nicholas Hardinge, as his son and heir.
After getting married, George and Lucy lived in a small house in Twickenham. There, he spent a lot of time with his neighbor, Horace Walpole, a famous writer. George later wrote about Walpole.
In 1782, George Hardinge became a lawyer for the Queen. He was later promoted to her chief lawyer in 1794. In 1783, he helped defend Sir Thomas Rumbold, 1st Baronet in the House of Commons. He also represented the East India Company in the House of Lords against a new law proposed by Charles James Fox.
In 1784, George became a Member of Parliament for Old Sarum. He was helped by his close friend, Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford. He was re-elected several times. People said he was a very good speaker. In 1788, he supported William Pitt the Younger's idea about who should rule if the king was unable to.
In 1787, George Hardinge was made a senior judge for the Welsh counties of Breconshire, Glamorgan, and Radnorshire. He held this job until he died. He passed away in Presteigne on April 26, 1816, from a lung illness called pleurisy.
George Hardinge was known for his humor. He was even mentioned in a famous poem by Lord Byron called Don Juan. He also helped raise more than £10,000 for charity. He was a leader in the Philanthropic Society, which helped people in need. He was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Society, which are groups for people interested in history and science.
Works of George Hardinge
George Hardinge was a talented writer. He wrote parts of biographies for books by John Nichols. These included stories about Daniel Wray and Sneyd Davies. He also helped publish some of his father's writings.
In 1791, he published a book called A Series of Letters to the Rt. Hon. E. Burke. This book discussed legal questions about a famous trial.
He also wrote two humorous books in 1800 and 1801 called The Essence of Malone. These books made fun of another writer's very long work. George Hardinge also wrote a play called Rowley and Chatterton in the Shades in 1782. Many of his other writings were collected and published after his death in a set of books called Miscellaneous Works.
