George Henry FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton (14 January 1760 – 28 September 1844), styled Earl of Euston until 1811, was a British Whig politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1782 to 1811 when he succeeded to the Dukedom.
Contents
Early life
Euston was the son of Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, and his wife, Anne Lidell. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became a close friend of the William Pitt the Younger. He married Lady Charlotte Maria Waldegrave (1761–1808), daughter of James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave, on 16 November 1784 at Navestock, Essex.
Political career
From 1782 to 1784, Euston was Member of Parliament for Thetford, and in 1784, he and Pitt were elected as MPs for Cambridge University. Euston held that seat until he succeeded his father in the dukedom in 1811. Euston used his position in parliament to advocate for Britain having friendly relations with the newly created United States.
He succeeded his father as Colonel of the West Suffolk Militia on 2 June 1780 at the age of 20 and retained the command until 1808. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Northamptonshire on 9 May 1803. He also succeeded his father as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk on 3 July 1790.
He was appointed a Knight Companion of the Garter (KG) in 1834.
Family
Grafton died on 28 September 1844 and was succeeded by his son Henry. He and his wife Charlotte had eleven children:
Lady Maria (Mary) Anne (1785–1855), married Sir William Oglander, 6th Baronet and had issue.
Lady Georgiana (1787–1855), unmarried
Lady Elizabeth Anne (1788–1867), married her first cousin John Henry Smyth and had issue.
Henry, styled Earl of Euston, later 5th Duke of Grafton (1790–1863)
Lord Charles FitzRoy (1791–1865), married Lady Anne Cavendish (daughter of George Cavendish, 1st Earl of Burlington) and had issue.
Lady Isabella Frances (1792–1875), married Henry Joseph St. John (died 1857)
Hon. William FitzRoy (1794–1804)
Hon. Hugh George FitzRoy (1795–1797)
Hon. Richard FitzRoy (1798–1798)
Hon. Richard FitzRoy (1800–1801)
Lord James FitzRoy (1804–1834)