George North, 3rd Earl of Guilford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Guildford
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| Member of Parliament for Banbury | |
| In office 1790–1792 |
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| Preceded by | Lord North |
| Succeeded by | Frederick North |
| Member of Parliament for Petersfield | |
| In office 1790–1790 Serving with William Jolliffe
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| Preceded by | William Jolliffe The Viscount Downe |
| Succeeded by | William Jolliffe Marquess of Titchfield |
| Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett | |
| In office 1784–1790 Serving with Robert Seymour Conway
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| Preceded by | Henry St John William Strahan |
| Succeeded by | John Thomas Stanley The Viscount Downe |
| Member of Parliament for Harwich | |
| In office 1778–1784 Serving with John Robinson
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| Preceded by | Edward Harvey John Robinson |
| Succeeded by | John Robinson Thomas Orde |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Augustus North
11 September 1757 |
| Died | 20 April 1802 (aged 44) |
| Spouses |
Lady Maria Frances Mary Hobart
(m. 1785; died 1794)Susan Coutts
(m. 1796) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford Anne Speke |
George Augustus North, the 3rd Earl of Guilford (born September 11, 1757 – died April 20, 1802), was an important British politician. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group of top scientists. Before he became an Earl, people knew him as The Honourable George North and later as Lord North.
Early Life and Family Background
George Augustus North was the oldest son of Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford. His father was famously known as Lord North and served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. His mother was Anne Speke. She was also the Ranger of Bushy Park, a royal park, for many years.
George had several brothers and sisters. His brother Francis later became the 4th Earl of Guilford. Another brother, Frederick, became the 5th Earl. His sisters included Catherine Anne, Charlotte, and Anne. Their grandfather was Francis North, the 1st Earl of Guilford.
George North went to Trinity College, Oxford, a famous university, in 1774. He earned a special Master of Arts degree in 1777.
Political Career and Achievements
George North started his political journey in the House of Commons. This is one of the two parts of the British Parliament. He was elected to represent different areas:
- Harwich from 1778 to 1784.
- Wootton Bassett from 1784 to 1790.
- Petersfield in 1790.
- Banbury from 1790 to 1792.
In 1792, George North's father passed away. This meant George inherited his father's title and became the Earl of Guilford. As an Earl, he then joined the House of Lords, the other part of the British Parliament. He strongly supported his father's policies, especially during the American War of Independence.
In 1786, he was given an honorary job as the Captain of Deal Castle. This was a historic castle on the coast. He held this position until he died. In 1782, he was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group for people who have made important discoveries in science.
Family Life and Legacy
Lord Guilford married twice. His first wife was Lady Maria Frances Mary Hobart. They got married on September 24, 1785. They had one daughter together:
- Lady Maria North (1793–1841). She later married John Crichton-Stuart, who was the 2nd Marquess of Bute. Lady Maria passed away on April 23, 1794.
After Lady Maria's death, George North married again on February 28, 1796. His second wife was Susan Coutts. Her father, Thomas Coutts, founded the famous banking company Coutts & Co.. With Susan, he had two more daughters:
- Lady Susan North (1797–1884). She later became the Baroness North in her own right.
- Lady Georgiana North (died 1835). She never married.
Sadly, George North had a serious accident while riding his horse. He fell and hurt his spine. He suffered from this injury for a long time and passed away in April 1802 at the age of 44. He was buried in Wroxton, Oxfordshire.
When he died, his title of Baron North was put into a special legal state called "abeyance" between his daughters. This means it was uncertain who would inherit it. His younger brother, Francis, became the 4th Earl of Guilford.
Years later, his son-in-law, the Marquess of Bute, asked the House of Lords to decide how George's estate should be divided between his widow and daughters. This was officially settled by King William IV in October 1831. The Countess of Guilford, his second wife Susan, passed away in 1837.
