George Rice (died 1779) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Rice
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Portrait of Rice by William Hoare
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| Member of the Great Britain Parliament for Carmarthenshire |
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| In office 1754–1779 |
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| Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire | |
| In office 1755–1779 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1724 |
| Died | 1779 (aged 54–55) |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse |
Cecil Talbot
(m. 1756) |
| Children | 4, including George and Edward |
George Rice (born 1724 – died 1779) was an important Welsh politician and a member of the royal court. He held several big jobs during his life. These included being in charge of the navy in Carmarthen and representing the King in Carmarthenshire. He also worked for the government on trade matters.
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George Rice's Early Life and Family
George Rice was the only son of Edward Rice. His family lived at Newton House, Llandeilo, in Carmarthenshire, Wales. His father was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area.
George went to Christ Church, Oxford university when he was 17. However, he did not finish his degree there. When his grandfather, Griffith Rice, passed away in 1728, George inherited Newton House. He also took over the large Dynefwr Estate near Llandeilo.
George Rice's Political Career
George Rice was very interested in politics and local issues. He was part of the Whig political group. In 1754, he was elected as an MP for Carmarthenshire. He won a tough election that year.
He kept his seat as an MP for 25 years until he died. He was re-elected four times without anyone running against him. In 1755, he became the Vice-Admiral of Carmarthen. This meant he was in charge of naval matters in the area.
He also became the Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire in 1755. This was a role where he represented the King in the county. When the local army, called the Carmarthenshire Militia, was formed, he became its Colonel.
Important Roles and Marriage
In 1765, George Rice became the Chamberlain for several Welsh areas. These included Brecon, Glamorgan, and Radnorshire. He was also sworn in as the Mayor of Carmarthen in 1767.
His marriage in 1756 helped him gain more political power. He married Cecil Talbot, whose father was a very important government official. In 1761, George Rice got a job as a Lord Commissioner. He worked for the government on trade and foreign plantations. This was a well-paid job. He kept this position in different governments until 1770.
After that, he became the Treasurer of the Chamber. This was a special job at the royal court. He was also made a member of the Privy Council. This group advises the King or Queen.
Newton House and Its Gardens
In the late 1700s, George Rice and his wife Cecil started to improve Newton House. They wanted to create a beautiful landscape garden. In 1775, they hired a famous architect named Capability Brown. He was known for designing amazing gardens.
George Rice also added turrets and battlements to Newton House. These changes were made between 1760 and 1780. They gave the house a more romantic and castle-like look.
George Rice passed away on August 3, 1779, when he was 55 years old. He was still in office at the time. His son, George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor, took over his responsibilities.
George Rice's Family
George Rice's wife, Cecil, became a noblewoman in her own right. She became Baroness Dynevor after her father died in 1782. She passed away in 1793.
George and Cecil had two daughters and two sons. Their sons were George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor (1765–1852) and Edward Rice (died 1867). Edward later became the Dean of Gloucester, a high-ranking church official.
