George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Dartmouth
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Portrait by Pompeo Batoni
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| President of the Board of Control | |
| In office 1801–1802 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Henry Addington |
| Preceded by | The Viscount Melville |
| Succeeded by | Viscount Castlereagh |
| Lord Steward | |
| In office 1802–1804 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Henry Addington |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Leicester |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Aylesford |
| Lord Chamberlain | |
| In office 1804–1810 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | The Marquess of Salisbury |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Member of Parliament for Staffordshire |
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| In office 1780–1784 |
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| Preceded by | William Bagot |
| Succeeded by | Sir Edward Littleton |
| Member of Parliament for Plymouth |
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| In office 1778–1780 |
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| Preceded by | The Viscount Barrington |
| Succeeded by | George Darby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 October 1755 |
| Died | 10 November 1810 (aged 55) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouses | Lady Frances Finch (d. 1838) |
Meet George Legge, the 3rd Earl of Dartmouth. He was an important British politician. He was also a Knight of the Garter (KG), a member of the Privy Council (PC), and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). Before 1801, he was known as Viscount Lewisham. He served in the House of Commons (part of the British Parliament) from 1778 to 1784.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Legge was born on October 3, 1755. He was the oldest son of William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth. His mother was Frances Katherine. George had two younger brothers, Arthur Kaye Legge and Edward Legge. Edward later became a bishop.
George went to two famous schools: Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. He started at Oxford University in 1771. He earned his master's degree in 1775 and a doctorate in 1778.
In the 1770s, George traveled to Florence, Italy. He even appeared in a famous painting by Johann Zoffany. The painting is called the Tribuna of the Uffizi.
Military Service
George also had a military role. In 1779, he became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Staffordshire Militia. He became the Colonel of the regiment in 1781. He left this role in 1783 when the American War of Independence ended.
Political Career
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George Legge started his political journey in 1778. He was elected to Parliament for Plymouth. He held this seat until 1780. Later, he was elected for Staffordshire and served there until 1784.
From 1783 to 1798, he was the Lord Warden of the Stannaries. This was an important role in Cornwall, England.
In 1801, George joined the House of Lords. This is the upper house of the British Parliament. He became the Earl of Dartmouth later that same year, after his father passed away.
Key Government Roles
George Legge held several important positions in the government:
- President of the Board of Control: From 1801 to 1802, he helped manage affairs related to British India.
- Lord Steward: From 1802 to 1804, he was in charge of the royal household.
- Lord Chamberlain: From 1804 to 1810, he managed the royal household's ceremonies and staff.
He worked under several Prime Ministers during these years. These included Henry Addington, William Pitt the Younger, and Spencer Perceval.
In 1801, he joined the Privy Council. This is a group of advisors to the King. In 1805, he was made a Knight of the Garter. This is a very special honor. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1781. In 1805, he was the first President of the British Institution, an art organization.
Family Life
Lord Dartmouth married Lady Frances Finch on September 24, 1782. They had fifteen children together.
- William Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth (1784–1853)
- Lady Louisa Legge (1787–1816), who married William Bagot, 2nd Baron Bagot.
- Hon. Heneage Legge (1788–1844)
- Lady Charlotte Legge (1789–1877)
- Lady Harriet Legge (1790–1855)
- Lady Barbara Maria Legge (1791–1840)
- Lady Georgina Caroline Legge (1795–1885), who was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Mary.
- Lady Mary Legge (1796–1886)
- Lady Anne Legge (1797–1885)
- General Hon. Arthur Charles Legge (1800–1890)
- Hon. Henry Legge (1803–1887)
Lord Dartmouth passed away on November 10, 1810, at the age of 55. His oldest son, William, became the next Earl of Dartmouth. Lady Dartmouth passed away in 1838.
