George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Sutherland
|
|
|---|---|
The 2nd Duke of Sutherland, c. 1810.
|
|
| Member of Parliament for Staffordshire | |
| In office 1815–1820 |
|
| Preceded by | Lord Granville Leveson-Gower Edward Littleton |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Boughey, Bt Edward Littleton |
| Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme | |
| In office 1812–1815 |
|
| Preceded by | James Macdonald Edward Bootle-Wilbraham |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Chetwode, Bt Sir John Boughey, Bt |
| Member of Parliament for St Mawes | |
| In office 1808–1812 |
|
| Preceded by | Scrope Bernard Viscount Ebrington |
| Succeeded by | William Shipley Scrope Bernard-Morland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Granville Leveson-Gower
8 August 1786 Portland Place, London |
| Died | 27 February 1861 (aged 74) Trentham Hall, Staffordshire |
| Spouses | |
| Children |
|
| Parents | George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland Elizabeth Gordon |
| Education | Harrow School |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (born August 8, 1786 – died February 27, 1861) was an important British politician and nobleman. He was a member of the Whig political party. He also held the title of Duke of Sutherland, which is a very high rank in the British peerage system.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower was born in London on August 8, 1786. He was the oldest son of the first Duke of Sutherland, George Leveson-Gower. His mother was Elizabeth Sutherland, who was a Countess in her own right.
He went to Harrow School from 1798 to 1803. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. He earned his first degree in 1806 and a master's degree in 1810. Later, in 1841, he received a special law degree from the same university.
Between 1806 and 1808, George traveled around Europe. He visited countries like Prussia and Russia. He even spent time with the Prussian army during their fight against Napoleon.
Political and Public Service Career
After returning from his travels, George Granville became a MP. An MP is a person elected to the House of Commons, which is part of the British Parliament. He first represented a small area called St Mawes in 1808.
Later, in 1812, he became the MP for Newcastle-Under-Lyme. He held this position until 1815. From 1815 to 1820, he served as an MP for the larger area of Staffordshire.
Besides being an MP, he held other important roles. He was the Lord Lieutenant for County of Sutherland from 1831 until he died. This role meant he was the King's representative in that area. He was also appointed High Steward of Stafford in 1833. From 1839 to 1845, he was the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire. In 1841, he received a special honor, becoming a Knight of the Order of the Garter.
Cricket Activities
George Sutherland was also interested in sports. He was an active first-class cricket player in 1816. He played in three matches for the Marylebone Cricket Club and another team.
Becoming the Duke
In 1833, his father passed away. His father had only recently been given the title of Duke of Sutherland by King William IV. So, George inherited this important title and became the 2nd Duke of Sutherland.
His mother, who was the 19th Countess of Sutherland, died in 1839. This meant George also inherited her ancient Scottish title, becoming the 20th Earl of Sutherland. For a long time, these two titles were held by the same person. It was the 2nd Duke who added "Sutherland" to his family name, making it Sutherland-Leveson-Gower.
Family Life and Interests
On May 28, 1823, George married Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard. She was the daughter of the 6th Earl of Carlisle. George and Harriet had eleven children together. They had seven daughters and four sons.
Their children included:
- Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1824–1878)
- Lady Evelyn Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1825–1869)
- Lady Caroline Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1827–1887)
- George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland (1828–1892)
- Lady Blanche Julia Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1830–1832)
- Lord Frederick George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1832–1854)
- Lady Constance Gertrude Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1834–1880)
- Lady Victoria Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1838–1839)
- Lord Albert Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1843–1874)
- Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1845–1916)
- Lady Alexandrina Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1848–1849)
The Duke was very fond of collecting books. He was one of the first members of the Roxburghe Club, which was started in 1812 for book lovers. He also served as a trustee for the National Gallery from 1835 and the British Museum from 1841. He was also a Fine Arts Commissioner in 1841.
The Duke passed away at the age of 75. He died at Trentham Hall, one of his large homes in Staffordshire, after being ill for some time.
Improving Family Homes
The Duke had some hearing problems, so he decided not to be too involved in politics. Instead, he used his energy and the great wealth he inherited to improve his family's homes.
In 1845, he hired a famous architect named Sir Charles Barry. Barry made huge changes to Dunrobin Castle, turning it into a grand palace with 189 rooms. The Duke also had Barry completely redesign his home in Staffordshire, Trentham Hall. Barry also worked on Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire and the family's London house, Stafford House. Stafford House was considered the most valuable private home in London at the time.
Notable Descendants
Many important families in Britain today are related to the 2nd Duke of Sutherland. Through his daughters' marriages, he is an ancestor of many current Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls.
For example, he is an ancestor of the present Dukes of Hamilton & Brandon, Argyll, Roxburghe, Northumberland, Leinster, and Westminster. His direct male family line ended in 1963. However, the current Countess of Sutherland is a direct descendant of the 2nd Duke.
