George Treby (politician) facts for kids
George Treby (born around 1684, died 1742) was an English politician. He lived at Plympton House in Devon. He was a member of the Whig party. Treby served in the House of Commons for 34 years, from 1708 to 1742. He held important jobs in the government. These included Secretary at War from 1718 to 1724. He was also Master of the Household from 1730 to 1741. George Treby completed building Plympton House between 1715 and 1720. His father had started the house but left it unfinished when he died in 1700.
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Early Life and Education
George Treby was born around 1685. He was the oldest son of Sir George Treby. His father was a very important judge. He was the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. George's mother was Dorothy Grainge.
In 1692, George began studying law. His father passed away in 1700. George then inherited his family's lands in Plympton. In 1701, at age 16, he went to Exeter College, Oxford University.
Political Career and Public Service
George Treby started his political career when he was in his early twenties. In 1708, he became a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented Plympton Erle. This was a "rotten borough." A rotten borough was a place with very few voters, but it still had a Member of Parliament. This meant it was easy for certain families to control who became MP.
Treby was a Whig. He was very active in Parliament's debates. He often helped count votes for the Whig side. He voted for important laws, like allowing people from other countries to become British citizens in 1709. He also voted to remove a doctor from his position in 1710.
He continued to be elected as MP for Plympton Erle without anyone running against him. He kept voting for the Whigs. He was against removing another MP, Richard Steele, from Parliament.
In 1716, he became a Commissioner for forfeited estates. This meant he helped manage properties that the government had taken. In 1718, he got a big job: Secretary at War. This role meant he was in charge of the army's administration. He held this position until 1724.
Later, he became a Teller of the Exchequer. This job involved handling government money. When King George II became king, Treby lost this job. He then became an MP for Dartmouth in 1727.
In 1730, he was appointed Master of the Household. This meant he managed the royal household. He kept this job until 1740. He was also involved in managing elections for other areas in Devon. In 1740, he became a Lord of the Treasury. This role meant he helped manage the country's finances. He lost this job in 1742 when the government changed.
Family and Descendants
George Treby married Charity Hele. She came from a family in Devon. They had two sons and two daughters.
- George III Treby (around 1726–1761) was their oldest son. He also became an MP for Plympton Erle. He never married.
- George Hele Treby (around 1727–1763) was their second son. He was a military officer and also an MP. He also never married.
- Ann(e) Treby married Benjamin Hay(e)s in 1756. She inherited an estate called Delamore. Her son was Treby Hele Hay(e)s.
- Charity Treby married Paul Ourry (1719–1783). Paul Ourry was also an MP for Plympton Erle. He later became a Commissioner at Plymouth Dockyard. Paul Ourry's father was a Huguenot refugee from France. A famous painting of Paul Ourry was done by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Charity and Paul Ourry had a son named Paul Treby Ourry (1758–1832). He inherited Plympton House. To follow the rules of the inheritance, he changed his last name to Treby in 1785. He was known for fox-hunting and was a friend of the famous "Hunting Parson" Jack Russell. He even came up with a way to breed foxes for hunting.
Paul Treby Ourry sold some family land. After he died in 1832, Plympton House was sold. Also in 1832, the family lost its political power in Plympton. This happened because of the Great Reform Act, which changed how MPs were elected.
Paul Treby Ourry married Laetitia Trelawny. They had four sons and four daughters.
- Paul Ourry Treby (born 1786) was the oldest son.
- Henry Hele Treby (born 1799) inherited from his brother.
- Caroline Treby married Thomas John Phillips. Their son, Major General Paul Winsloe Phillips, later took the Treby surname in 1877. This was after he inherited the Treby family estates.
In 1873, Miss Blanche Treby owned a lot of land in the Plympton area. She was also the lord of the manor of Plympton St Maurice, where Plympton House is located.
Images for kids
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Admiral Paul Henry Ourry with his dog 'Jersey'.
