William FitzRoy, 6th Duke of Grafton

William Henry Fitzroy, 6th Duke of Grafton (5 August 1819 – 21 May 1882), styled Viscount Ipswich until 1847 and Earl of Euston between 1847 and 1863, was a British peer and Liberal Party politician. He was born in London and educated at Harrow, and after went to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

His Grace
The Duke of Grafton
Duke of Grafton
BornWilliam Henry FitzRoy
(1819-08-05)5 August 1819
Middlesex, England
Died21 May 1882(1882-05-21) (aged 62)
London, England
Spouse(s)
The Hon. Marie Baring
(m. 1858)
ParentsHenry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton
Mary Caroline Berkeley
Arms of the Duke of Grafton

He was the son of Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton and his wife Mary Caroline Berkeley, who were married on 20 June 1812 in Lisbon. At the time his father was an officer fighting with the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War.[citation needed]

At the 1847 general election he was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the borough of Thetford in Norfolk,[1] a seat held by his father from 1834 to 1841. He was returned unopposed at the next three general elections,[1] and held the seat until he succeeded to his father's peerage in 1863.[2] As well as the titles he inherited almost 26,000 acres.[3]

Grafton married the Honourable Marie Anne Louise Baring (18 November 1833 – 8 April 1928), the daughter of Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton, on 10 February 1858. He spent the winter and spring each year at Hyères because he and his wife both suffered from ill health.[citation needed]

In 1860 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel in command of the 1st Administrative Battalion of Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteers.[4]

He died childless in 1882, aged 62, in London and was succeeded as Duke of Grafton by his younger brother, Augustus.[citation needed]

Arms edit

Coat of arms of William FitzRoy, 6th Duke of Grafton
 
Coronet
The coronet of a Duke
Crest
On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion statant guardant Or ducally crowned Azure and gorged with a Collar counter-compony Argent and of the fourth.
Escutcheon
The Royal Arms of Charles II, viz Quarterly: 1st and 4th, France and England quarterly; 2nd, Scotland; 3rd, Ireland; the whole debruised by a Baton sinister compony of six pieces Argent and Azure
Supporters
Dexter: a Lion guardant Or ducally crowned Azure; Sinister: a Greyhound Argent, each gorged with a Collar counter-compony Argent and Azure.
Motto
Et Decus Et Pretium Recti (The ornament and recompense of virtue)

References edit

  1. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 305. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  2. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 1)
  3. ^ The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland
  4. ^ Army List.

External links edit

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Thetford
18471863
With: Hon. William Baring 1847–1848
Francis Baring 1848–1857
Alexander Baring 1857–1863
Succeeded by
Peerage of England
Preceded by Duke of Grafton
1863–1882
Succeeded by