George Ingram, 8th Viscount of Irvine facts for kids
George Ingram, 8th Viscount Irvine (or Irwin) (1694-1763) was an English clergyman and a noble in Scotland. He held the title of Viscount for a short time, from 1761 to 1763. He also served as the Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
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George's Early Life and Church Career
George Ingram was the sixth son of Arthur Ingram, 3rd Viscount of Irvine (who died in 1702). His family lived at Temple Newsam, Yorkshire. His mother was Isabella Machell. She was the daughter of John Machell, a Member of Parliament for Horsham, Sussex.
George was baptized in Whitkirk, Yorkshire. He started studying at Oriel College, Oxford on June 7, 1711, when he was 17. He earned his first degree in 1714. In 1716, he became a Fellow at the same college. He received his master's degree in 1717.
He became a deacon at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford on December 21, 1718. Bishop John Potter ordained him. A few months later, on February 8, he became a priest. Bishop Talbot of Salisbury ordained him at Westminster St James.
Just three days later, he became the Rector of Crudwell, Wiltshire. He held this church position until he died. In October 1723, he also became the vicar of Hankerton, Wiltshire. Both Crudwell and Hankerton are villages near Malmesbury. In 1724, he was chosen as the chaplain for the House of Commons. He also became a canon of Windsor and a Prebendary of Westminster.
How George Became Viscount Irvine
George had several older brothers. Edward (who died in 1714), Rich (who died in 1721), and Arthur (who died in 1736) all held the title of Viscount before him.
After Arthur died, their fourth brother, Henry, became the seventh Viscount. Henry held the title for the longest time among his family members, until 1761.
The fifth brother, John Ingram, was likely dead by January 1725. Because of this, George Ingram became the 8th Viscount. He was the next male heir in the family. He held the title for two years until his death in 1763.
George's younger brothers, Charles (who died in 1748), Thomas (who died as a baby in 1698), and William (who died in 1756), all passed away before him. So, the title then went to his nephew, Charles Ingram (1727-1778). This Charles was the son of George's seventh brother, also named Charles.
Charles Ingram was the last male heir of the first Viscount. When he died in 1778, the title of Viscount Irvine ended.
George's Will and Gifts
In his will, George Ingram asked to be buried in the churchyard at Crudwell. He did not want to be buried inside the church. He asked for a simple headstone that said he was the rector there for 45 years.
He left £70 to be shared among the poor families of Crudwell and Hankerton. Instead of a big funeral meal, he wanted loaves of bread given to every poor family in those villages. He was also very generous to his servants and church friends.
George was not married. He made his niece Elizabeth, who was his brother Charles's daughter, the main person in charge of his will. She received most of his remaining money. He gave £400 in money and East India Company bonds to his mother, who was 93 years old at the time.
He also left a small amount of money to a friend from Oxford. He said it was to pay back a gold coin he had found and never returned.
In a separate part of his will, called a Codicil, he made a special gift to his servant, Ann Evans. He left her £2,000 in South Sea Annuities. This money was to provide her with £40 a year for life. The rest was for her daughter, Ann Evans, to help with her living costs and marriage. He also left Ann Evans one of his horses and many household items from his home in Crudwell. He also asked that his "poor dogs" be taken care of.
He didn't have much to leave his nephew Charles, but he gave him a choice of his books and pictures. He also sent his love and blessing. A letter to his niece was included with the will. In it, he asked her to "be kind to Nanny Evans who deserves it" and to be kind to her grandmother.
Portraits of George Ingram
George Ingram left a choice of pictures from his rooms in Westminster to his nephew Charles. He mentioned one portrait where he had sat for it and paid for it.
There are two portraits of the 8th Viscount in the collections at Temple Newsam. Both were given to the collection in 1948 and 1993. Both paintings show him dressed as a clergyman.
The younger portrait shows George in an oval frame. He has long, full, brown curly hair and is holding a pair of gloves. There is a classical landscape behind him. The other portrait shows him looking older and more serious. He is wearing a long grey wig against a dark background.
