Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Northumberland
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"Northumberland"
Earl Percy as caricatured in Vanity Fair, August 1881 |
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| Lord High Steward 1911 Coronation of King George V |
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| In office 9 August 1902 – 9 August 1902 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Marlborough |
| Succeeded by | The Marquess of Salisbury |
| Treasurer of the Household | |
| In office 2 March 1874 – 14 December 1875 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Preceded by | The Lord Monson |
| Succeeded by | Lord Henry Thynne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 May 1846 |
| Died | 14 May 1918 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses | Lady Edith Campbell (1849–13) |
| Children | 13, including Henry, Alan, and Eustace |
| Parents | Algernon Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland Louisa Drummond |
Henry George Percy, the 7th Duke of Northumberland, was an important British politician. He was born on May 29, 1846, and passed away on May 14, 1918. He was a member of the Conservative Party.
Before he became the Duke, he was known by different names. From 1865 to 1867, people called him Lord Warkworth. Then, from 1867 to 1899, he was known as Earl Percy.
He held several important jobs in the government. For example, he was the Treasurer of the Household from 1874 to 1875. This was during the time when Benjamin Disraeli was the Prime Minister. He also led a big group called the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations for several years.
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Who Was Henry George Percy?
Henry George Percy was the oldest son of Algernon Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland. His mother was Louisa Drummond. His younger brother was Lord Algernon Percy.
When his grandfather became the Duke of Northumberland in 1865, Henry was given the special title of Lord Lovaine. Two years later, in 1867, his father became the Duke. At that point, Henry's title changed again, and he became known as Earl Percy. He finally became the 7th Duke of Northumberland in 1899 after his father died.
A Career in Politics
Henry George Percy started his political journey in 1868. He was elected to represent Northumberland North in the British Parliament.
In 1874, he joined the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. At the same time, he was made the Treasurer of the Household. He held this job until 1875.
What Did the Treasurer of the Household Do?
The Treasurer of the Household was a government role. This person was in charge of the royal household's finances. It was a position within the British government.
From 1879 to 1883, he was the leader of the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations. This group helped organize and support the Conservative Party.
In 1885, his local area's parliamentary seat was removed. He did not get elected for another area. However, two years later, he was called to join the House of Lords. This happened through a special process called a writ of acceleration. This meant he could join the House of Lords using his father's old title, Baron Lovaine.
Later in his life, starting in 1909, he also became an alderman on the Middlesex County Council. An alderman was a senior member of a local council.
Important Public Roles
When Henry George Percy became the Duke in 1899, he also received a very special honor. He was made a Knight of the Garter. This is one of the oldest and most important honors in Britain.
From 1904 until his death in 1918, he served as the Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland. This role meant he was the King's personal representative in the county of Northumberland.
In 1911, he had a very important job at King George V's coronation. He was the Lord High Steward. During the ceremony, he had the honor of carrying St Edward's Crown.
He was also involved in education. In 1902, he was the President of the Board of Governors for Durham University College of Science. From 1913, he also served as the second Chancellor of the University of Durham. A Chancellor is usually the head of a university.
He was also the President of the Guildford Agricultural Association starting in 1902. This group focused on farming and agriculture. He also held an honorary military title as a Colonel.
His Family Life
On December 23, 1868, the Duke of Northumberland married Lady Edith Campbell. She was the daughter of George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll. They had a large family with 13 children together.
Some of their children included:
- Henry Algernon George Percy, Earl Percy (1871–1909)
- Alan Ian Percy, who became the 8th Duke of Northumberland (1880–1930)
- Lord William Richard Percy (1882–1963)
- Eustace Sutherland Campbell Percy, who became the 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle (1887–1958)
- Lady Mary Percy (1878–1965), who was the mother of the famous author and naturalist Gavin Maxwell.
Lady Edith, the Duchess of Northumberland, passed away in July 1913 when she was 63 years old. The Duke lived for five more years after her. He died in May 1918 at the age of 71.
