Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville

The Right Honourable The Earl Granville GCB, PC
Ambassador to Russia
In office 1804–1805
Preceded by	Sir John Borlase Warren, Bt
Succeeded by	The Lord Cathcart
In office 1807–1812
Preceded by	The Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale
Succeeded by	The Viscount Cathcart
Ambassador to France
In office 1824–1828
Preceded by	Charles Stuart
Succeeded by	The Lord Stuart de Rothesay
In office 1830–1835
Preceded by	The Lord Stuart de Rothesay
Succeeded by	The Lord Cowley
In office 1835–1841
Preceded by	The Lord Cowley
Succeeded by	The Lord Cowley
Personal details
Born	12 October 1773 (1773-10-12)
Died	8 January 1846(1846-01-08) (aged 72)
Nationality	British
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Lady Harriet Cavendish (1785-1862)
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford

Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville GCB PC (12 October 1773 – 8 January 1846), known as Lord Granville Leveson-Gower from 1786 to 1814 and as the Viscount Granville from 1814 to 1833, was a British Whig statesman and diplomat.

Background and education

Granville was a son of Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford and his third wife Lady Susannah Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway. He was also a younger, paternal half-brother of George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland. He was educated at Dr Kyle's school at Hammersmith, and then by the Revd John Chappel Woodhouse, before matriculating at Christ Church, Oxford, in April 1789. He took no degree, but became a DCL in 1799.

Political and diplomatic career

He served as British ambassador to Russia (10 August 1804 - 28 November 1805 and 1806-1807) and France (1824-1828, 1830-1835, 1835-1841). In 1815 he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Granville, of Stone Park in the County of Stafford. In 1833, he was further honoured when he was created Baron Leveson, of Stone Park in the County of Stafford, and Earl Granville.

Family

Lord Granville married Lady Harriet Cavendish (1785-1862), daughter of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire and Lady Georgiana Spencer, in 1809. They had two sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, became a distinguished politician. Their second son the Hon. Frederick Leveson-Gower was also a politician. Their daughter Lady Georgiana married Alexander Fullerton. She was a biographer, novelist and great philanthropist. Lord Granville died in January 1846, aged 72. The Countess Granville died in November 1862, aged 77. Lord Granville, prior to marrying Lady Harriet Cavendish, was the lover of Lady Harriet's maternal aunt, Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, née Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer, with whom he fathered two illegitimate children: Harriette Stewart and George Stewart.

References

• Peerage, Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs . Retrieved on 17 November 2008.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl Granville

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Thomas Gilbert Thomas Anson	Member of Parliament for Lichfield with Thomas Anson 1795–1799	Succeeded by Sir John Wrottesley Thomas Anson
Preceded by Earl Gower Sir Edward Littleton, Bt	Member of Parliament for Staffordshire with Sir Edward Littleton, Bt 1799–1801	Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain	Member of Parliament for Staffordshire with Sir Edward Littleton, Bt 1801-1812 Edward John Littleton 1812-1815 1801–1815	Succeeded by Earl Gower Edward John Littleton
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sir John Borlase Warren, Bt	British Ambassador to Russia 1804–1805	Succeeded by The Lord Cathcart
Preceded by Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale	British Ambassador to Russia 1807–1812	Succeeded by The Viscount Cathcart (created Earl Cathcart in 1814)
Preceded by Charles Stuart	British Ambassador to France 1824–1828	Succeeded by The Lord Stuart de Rothesay
Preceded by The Lord Stuart de Rothesay	British Ambassador to France 1830–1835	Succeeded by The Lord Cowley
Preceded by The Lord Cowley	British Ambassador to France 1835–1841	Succeeded by The Lord Cowley
Political offices
Preceded by Sir James Murray-Pulteney, Bt	Secretary at War 1809	Succeeded by The Viscount Palmerston
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Earl Granville 2nd creation 1833–1846	Succeeded by Granville Leveson-Gower
New creation	Viscount Granville 1815–1846