Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough

Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough
Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough
Member of Parliament; for Rutland
	In office; 1840–1841 Serving with Gilbert Heathcote
Preceded by	Gilbert Heathcote; William Noel;
Succeeded by	Gilbert Heathcote; William Dawnay;
Personal details
Born	5 September 1818
Died	13 August 1881 (aged 62)
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Ida Harriet Augusta
Children	2 sons, 3 daughters
Parents	Charles Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough (father); Elizabeth Grey (mother);
Relatives	Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet (maternal grandfather); William Noel (paternal uncle); Gerard Noel (half-brother); William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll (father-in-law);
Residence	Flitteriss Park
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge
Occupation	Aristocrat, politician

Charles George Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough (5 September 1818 – 13 August 1881), styled Viscount Campden between 1841 and 1866, was a British peer and Whig politician.

Background

Gainsborough was the only child of Charles Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough, by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet. His mother died two weeks after he was born. He was the half-brother of Gerard Noel. He was educated privately and at Trinity College, Cambridge.^[1]

Career

Gainsborough succeeded his uncle William Noel as Member of Parliament for Rutland in 1840, but only held the seat until the following year. He then served a year as High Sheriff of Rutland for 1848. In 1866 he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords. The following year he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, which he remained until his death. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry from 1879–81, recorded as captain on 12 August 1850.

He and his wife embraced Roman Catholicism on New Year's Day in 1850.^[2]

Family

Lord Gainsborough married Ida Harriet Augusta, daughter of William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll and Elizabeth FitzClarence, illegitimate daughter of King William IV, in 1841. The family home was at Flitteriss Park.

They had five children.

Lady Blanche (c.1845-1881), who married Thomas Murphy
Lady Constance (1847-1891), who married Sir Henry Bellingham, 4th Baronet
Charles, 3rd Earl of Gainsborough (20 October 1850 – 17 April 1926), had issue.
Edward (1852-1917), who married Ruth Lucas
Lady Edith (died 1890), who became a nun.

Lady Gainsborough died in October 1867. Lord Gainsborough remained a widower until his death in August 1881, aged 62. He was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, Charles.

His grandson, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Noel was a British spy active in the Caucasus and Caspian area during the Russian Revolution.

References

^ "Noel, the Hon. CHarles George (NL836CG)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ Bence-Jones, Mark, The Catholic Families, Constable: London (1992)

External links

Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Gainsborough

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bt William Noel	Member of Parliament for Rutland 1840 – 1841 With: Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bt	Succeeded by Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bt Hon. William Dawnay
Honorary titles
Preceded by Richard Lucas	High Sheriff of Rutland 1848	Succeeded by John Thomas Springthorpe
Preceded by The Marquess of Exeter	Lord Lieutenant of Rutland 1867 – 1881	Succeeded by The Earl of Dysart
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Charles Noel Noel	Earl of Gainsborough 1866 – 1881	Succeeded by Charles Noel

[1] "Noel, the Hon. CHarles George (NL836CG)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[2] Bence-Jones, Mark, The Catholic Families, Constable: London (1992)

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