George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Sutherland
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| Ambassador to France | |
| In office 1790–1792 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Dorset |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 January 1758 London, England |
| Died | 19 July 1833 (aged 75) Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Sutherland, 19th Countess of Sutherland |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
George Granville Leveson-Gower was a very important and wealthy English politician, diplomat, and landowner. He was known by several titles during his life, including Viscount Trentham, Earl Gower, and the Marquess of Stafford, before becoming the 1st Duke of Sutherland. He lived from 1758 to 1833.
He was considered the richest person in Britain during the later part of his life. However, he is also a controversial figure because of his role in the Highland Clearances. This was a time when many people in the Scottish Highlands were moved from their homes.
Contents
Early Life & Education
George Granville Leveson-Gower was born in London on January 9, 1758. His father was Granville Leveson-Gower, the 1st Marquess of Stafford. His mother was Lady Louisa.
He went to Westminster School, a famous school in London. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a well-known university. He finished his studies there in 1777.
Starting in Politics
George Granville Leveson-Gower began his political career in the House of Commons. This is one of the two parts of the British Parliament. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1779 to 1784. Later, he represented Staffordshire from 1787 to 1799.
In 1799, he moved to the House of Lords. This is the other part of the British Parliament, where members usually inherit their seats or are appointed. He joined the House of Lords using one of his father's titles, Baron Gower.
Ambassador to France
From 1790 to 1792, George Granville Leveson-Gower served as the British Ambassador to France. An ambassador is a country's main representative in another country. He was only 32 years old when he took on this important role in Paris.
His time as ambassador was during the French Revolution. This was a very difficult and confusing period in France. The French King, Louis XVI, was under house arrest. This meant Gower could not work closely with the royal family as ambassadors usually would.
He was not very experienced in diplomacy, which is the art of dealing with other countries. His main job was to send news from the French court back to Britain. He reported on some small disturbances but didn't fully understand the big political changes happening.
On August 10, 1792, there was a major uprising in Paris. The royal family was forced from their palace, and the King was arrested. Because of this, Britain ended its diplomatic relations with France. This meant Gower had to leave his post as ambassador.
Later Political Roles
After returning to Britain, he was offered important jobs like Lord Steward of the Household and Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, but he turned them down. However, in 1799, he accepted the role of joint Postmaster General of the United Kingdom. He held this position until 1801.
He played a part in changing the government in 1804. After this, he switched his political loyalty from the Tory party to the Whig party. After 1807, he was less involved in politics. But later in his life, he supported important changes like allowing Catholics more rights and the 1832 Reform Act, which changed how people could vote.
He also held honorary positions. He was a Colonel in the Staffordshire Regiment from 1794 to 1800. He was also the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 1799 to 1801 and Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland from 1794 to 1830. These roles involved representing the King in those areas.
In 1790, he became a Privy Counsellor. This is a group of advisors to the British monarch. In 1806, he was made a Knight of the Garter, which is a very high honor. Finally, on January 28, 1833, he was given the title Duke of Sutherland.
Immense Wealth
The Leveson-Gower family owned a lot of land in different parts of England. In 1803, George Granville Leveson-Gower inherited even more land and wealth from his mother's uncle, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater. This inheritance included the Bridgewater Canal, which was a very important waterway for transporting goods. It also included a huge art collection.
This inheritance made him incredibly rich. Some people believe he was the wealthiest person in the 19th century. He was described as a "leviathan of wealth," meaning he had an enormous amount of money. After the Duke of York died in 1827, he bought Stafford House in London, which became the grand city home for the Dukes of Sutherland.
Sutherland and the Highland Clearances
George Granville Leveson-Gower and his wife, Elizabeth Sutherland, are very controversial figures because of their part in the Highland Clearances. This was a period when thousands of tenants, or renters, were moved from their homes in the Scottish Highlands. They were often moved to new, smaller farms called crofts along the coast. This was part of a plan to "improve" the land and make it more profitable.
The main clearances in Sutherland happened between 1811 and 1820. In 1811, a law was passed to help pay for building roads in northern Scotland. The Duke started building roads and bridges, which were almost non-existent before. He and his wife believed that the traditional way of farming in the Highlands could not last. They thought that sheep farming would bring in much more money from the land. His wife, Elizabeth, was very involved in managing the estate and making these decisions.
The first moves involved people from Assynt going to coastal villages, with the idea that they could start fishing. Some people resisted these moves. In 1813, there was a six-week standoff in the Strath of Kildonan, which ended with the army being called in.
The Sutherland family spent a lot of their wealth on these changes. They believed they were helping their tenants by moving them to places where they could fish or find other work, even though it meant leaving their traditional homes. The clearances caused a lot of hardship and are still a sensitive topic today.
Monuments to the Duke
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There are several monuments built to remember George Granville Leveson-Gower.
One monument is in Shropshire, England. It's called the Lilleshall Monument, a tall, 70-foot stone pillar built in 1833. It stands on top of Lilleshall Hill and can be seen from far away. A plaque on it says he was a "just and generous" landlord and that his tenants respected him.
Another large statue was built in 1834 in the Trentham Gardens Estate in Trentham, Staffordshire. This huge statue sits on a stone column.
The most famous monument is a large statue known as the Mannie, located on Ben Bhraggie near Golspie in Scotland. It was put up in 1837 to honor the Duke. However, this statue has caused a lot of debate and controversy. Because of his role in the Highland Clearances, some people want the statue removed or replaced with information about the Clearances. There have even been attempts to damage it. Despite the controversy, the statue still stands today, reminding people of this part of history.
Family Life
George Granville Leveson-Gower married Elizabeth Sutherland, 19th Countess of Sutherland on September 4, 1785. Elizabeth was the daughter of the 18th Earl of Sutherland.
They had four children who survived:
- George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1786–1861)
- Lady Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower (around 1788–1870), who married the 13th Duke of Norfolk.
- Lady Elizabeth Mary Leveson-Gower (1797–1891), who married the 2nd Marquess of Westminster.
- Francis Leveson-Gower (later Egerton) (1800–1857).
George Granville Leveson-Gower died at Dunrobin Castle in July 1833, when he was 75 years old. He had been ill for eleven years after having a stroke. He was buried at Dornoch Cathedral. His eldest son, George, took over his titles and estates. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1839.
Lasting Impact
Because of his controversial role in the Sutherland Clearances, the "Mannie" statue of the Duke in Golspie, Sutherland, has been damaged several times.
There are also well-known Gaelic songs that make fun of the Duke. One of the most famous is Dùthaich Mhic Aoidh (Mackay Country), written by Ewen Robertson, who was known as the "Bard of the Clearances." This song expresses strong feelings about the Duke and the impact of the Clearances.
