John Granville, 1st Baron Granville of Potheridge facts for kids
John Granville, 1st Baron Granville of Potheridge (born April 12, 1665 – died December 3, 1707) was an important English soldier and politician. He was known as The Honourable John Granville until 1703, when he became a Baron. He played a part in major historical events during his lifetime.
Early Life and Education
John Granville was born into a very important family. His father was John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath, and his mother was Jane Wyche. His grandfather was Sir Bevil Grenville, a famous soldier. John was the younger brother of Charles Granville, 2nd Earl of Bath. He went to Christ Church, Oxford for his education, which was a top university at the time.
A Life in Politics and War
John Granville was both a soldier and a politician. He fought in the Imperial Army (a powerful European army) during the Battle of Vienna in 1683. This was a big battle that helped stop the Ottoman Empire from expanding further into Europe.
Two years later, in 1685, John became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Launceston. He held this job until 1687.
He strongly supported the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This was a time when King James II was replaced by William of Orange and Queen Mary II without a major war. John led a group of soldiers called Grenadiers to help William of Orange at the Siege of Cork in September 1690. A siege is when an army surrounds a place to try and capture it.
In February 1690, he was made Captain of Deal Castle, an important fortress. However, he lost this job later that year, along with his rank in the Guards and his command of a warship, due to political reasons.
In 1689, he was elected as an MP again, this time for Plymouth. He spoke out four times about the problems with the Royal Navy, which was England's navy. He also joined a special group that made suggestions on how to help sailors who were hurt in battle.
He continued to serve in Parliament for different areas:
- Plymouth until 1698
- Newport from 1698 to 1700
- Fowey from January to December 1701
- Cornwall from 1701 to 1703
During the entire time King William III was on the throne, John Granville was part of the "opposition." This means he often disagreed with the government's plans.
When Queen Anne became queen in 1702, things changed for John. He was made a member of the Privy Council, a group of important advisors to the monarch. In 1703, Queen Anne made him a peer, giving him the title Baron Granville of Potheridge. This meant he became a nobleman and could sit in the House of Lords.
He also received several other important jobs:
- Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall
- Lord Warden of the Stannaries
- Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance
He held these positions until 1705, when he once again joined the political opposition.
Family Life and Passing
Lord Granville of Potheridge married Rebeccah Child in 1703. She was the daughter of Sir Josiah Child, 1st Baronet and the widow of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester. They did not have any children together.
John Granville passed away in December 1707, at the age of 42, after a sudden illness. Because he had no children, his title of Baron ended with him. He was buried in St Clement Danes church in London.
