George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland

George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (c. 1810)

Shield of arms of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland, KG

George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland, KG (8 August 1786 – 27 February 1861), styled Viscount Trentham until 1803, Earl Gower between 1803 and 1833 and Marquess of Stafford in 1833, was a British Whig MP and peer from the Leveson-Gower family.

Background

Sutherland-Leveson-Gower was born at Portland Place, London, as the eldest son of George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland and his wife Elizabeth Gordon, de jure Countess of Sutherland.

He was educated at Harrow School from 1798 to 1803, then entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1806 and M.A. in 1810. In 1841 he graduated D.C.L. at the same university.

His father died in 1833, only six months after being created Duke of Sutherland by William IV for his support for the Reform Act 1832, and so this new title devolved on his eldest son. His mother, who was 19th Countess of Sutherland in her own right, died in 1839, and so her ancient Scottish title passed to George, who also became 20th Earl of Sutherland. As a result, the two titles were united in the same person until 1963. It was the 2nd Duke who assumed the additional surname of Sutherland, so that his family name became Sutherland-Leveson-Gower.

Travels

Between 1806 and 1808, Earl Gower travelled in Prussia and Russia. During the Prussian campaign against Napoleon's French forces, he spent time at the Prussians' general headquarters.

Political career and public offices

After returning from Europe, Earl Gower entered the Commons as M.P. for the Cornwall rotten borough of St Mawes in 1808. In 1812, he transferred to sit for the Staffordshire borough of Newcastle-Under-Lyme, until 1815, when he stood to become one of the county MPs for Staffordshire, sitting until 1820.

He was also Lord Lieutenant for the County of Sutherland from 1831 until his death, was appointed High Steward of the Borough of Stafford in 1833, and was Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire from 1839-45. He was appointed Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) in 1841.

Cricket

Sutherland was an active first-class cricketer in 1816 when he played for Marylebone Cricket Club and a team organised by E. H. Budd in a total of three matches.

Cultural interests

He was a keen book collector and was one of the founder members of the Roxburghe Club in 1812.

He was a trustee of the National Gallery from 1835 and of the British Museum from 1841 to his death, as well as appointed a Fine Arts Commissioner in 1841.

Building projects

Sutherland was partially deaf and therefore decided not to play a very active part in politics which was the path well worn by his contemporary peers. Instead he expended his energies by spending some of his vast wealth which he inherited from his father on improving his homes. In 1845, he employed Sir Charles Barry to make vast alterations to Dunrobin Castle. Barry transformed the place into the 189-room ducal palace which we see today. In addition to Dunrobin, the Duke also had Barry completely remodel his Staffordshire seat of Trentham Hall, Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire, and the family's London townhouse, Stafford House, which was the most valuable private home in the whole of London.

Death

The Duke died, aged 75, at Trentham Hall in Staffordshire, one of his English mansions, after a period of illness.

Family

Sutherland married Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard (1806 – 27 October 1868), daughter of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle, on 28 May 1823. They had eleven children, seven daughters and four sons:

• Lady Elizabeth Georgiana (30 May 1824–25 May 1878), married George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll and had issue.
• Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower (8 August 1825–24 November 1869), married Charles Stuart, 12th Lord Blantyre
• Lady Caroline Leveson-Gower (15 April 1827–13 May 1887), married Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster and had issue.
• George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland (19 December 1828–22 September 1892)
• Lady Blanche Julia Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (26 June 1830–24 February 1832)
• Lord Frederick George Leveson-Gower (11 November 1832–6 October 1854)
• Lady Constance Leveson-Gower (later Sutherland-Leveson-Gower in 1841; 16 June 1834–19 December 1880), married Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster and had issue.
• Lady Victoria Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (16 May 1838–19 June 1839)
• Lord Albert (21 November 1843–1874), married Grace Abdy, daughter of Sir Thomas Neville Abdy, 1st Baronet and had issue, including Frederick Leveson-Gower.
• Lord Ronald Gower (2 August 1845–9 March 1916), died unmarried.
• Lady Alexandrina Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (3 February 1848–21 June 1849)

A very large proportion of today's aristocracy are descended from the 2nd Duke of Sutherland. Through the marriages of his daughters, he is the ancestor of the present Dukes of Hamilton & Brandon, Argyll, Northumberland, Leinster, and Westminster, the present Marquesses of Hertford and Londonderry, the present earls of Selkirk, Lichfield and Cromartie, and the present Viscount Dilhorne, among many others. The heir to the present Duke of Roxburghe is also descended from him. His male line died out on the death of his great-grandson, the 5th Duke in 1963, and the title passed to John Egerton, a descendant of the 2nd Duke's brother Francis who was not descended from the 2nd Duke (although his wife, Diana, was). The present Countess of Sutherland is a direct descendant of the 2nd Duke. He was also the ancestor of the late Duchess of Beaufort, but not of the present Duke of Beaufort. Other notable descendants include the naturalist Gavin Maxwell and the spymaster Eliza Manningham-Buller.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Sutherland