Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster KG, PC ( born January 27, 1795 in London, † October 31, 1869 in Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire ) was an English aristocrat, landowner and benefactor.
Career and Private
Richard Grosvenor was born in Millbank House in Westminster, London,. He was the eldest son of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster and his wife Lady Eleanor Egerton. He attended Westminster School, then to study in Oxford at Christ Church. He graduated from the Masters of Arts. In 1815 he went on the Grand Tour.
Grosvenor's parents had instilled in their children high moral principles, and Richard Grosvenor was to these principles throughout his life. He was described as " severe character" that " unshakable fulfilled his duty as a family man, politician and landowner ." In its obituary of Grosvenor, the Times wrote that he had his huge estates managed with a mixture of intelligence and generosity, which you do not often going to witness. Like his ancestors had Grosvenor great interest in horse racing and breeding. When he was in his country house, he spent his time mainly with fishing and hunting.
Political and Public Life
1818 Grosvenor was chosen for the Whigs as a deputy for the city of Chester, and was later also appointed as Justice of the Peace. ; In 1830 he was Member of Parliament for Cheshire. 1832, the constituency was divided, and in 1834 he represented South Cheshire. From 1845 to 1867 he was Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire from 1850 to 1852 in the Whig government, which was led by Lord John Russell, Lord Steward of the Household. On 22 March 1850 he was summoned to the Privy Council. In the House of Lords he rarely spoke.
Grosvenor as a landowner and patron
Grosvenor was devoted to the development of his Londoners landed property and purchased another lands in Dorset and Cheshire added; he was referred to as " model landowners ". So he built farms, schools and numerous new cottages. In these schools, the Bishop Field Schools were in Chester.
Richard Grosvenor's father had left the family estate, Eaton Hall, expand in an overloaded neo-Gothic style by architect William Porden. The son commissioned the Scottish architect William Burn to perform conversions. So the center of the south side was increased so that it looked like a tower. Burn also designed the Fonthill House in the so-called Scottish Baronial style. Grosvenor was a former supporter of the architect John Douglas of Chester. From 1865 to 1866 Douglas drew on his behalf, the St. John the Baptist Church in Aldford, which belonged to his possession. At the same time, leaving the city of Chester Grosvenor fields for the design of the Grosvenor Park. For this Park Douglas designed a series of objects, including the gatehouse, Goals and a vault for Billy Hobby 's Well.
1865 began the citizens of Chester, to raise money for a monument of Richard Grosvenor to, the grounds, " to emphasize the public and private validity of his lordship and the esteem in which he learns from his neighbors, tenants and all classes of the public ". About 5,000 pounds (in today's value approximately 360,000 pounds ) came together in 1869 and designed by Thomas Thornycroft monument was unveiled in Grosvenor Park, showing the Marquis in his robes of the Order of the Garter, where it still stands today.
Family
1819 married Lord Westminster Lady Elizabeth Leveson - Gower, daughter of George Leveson - Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford. After their marriage the couple lived initially together with the parents of Grosvenor in Eaton Hall; during the London ball season they lived at the Grosvenor House. 1827 she traveled to Norway, Sweden and Russia, and from 1835 to 1836 Germany and Italy. 1883 they moved to the Motcombe House in Dorset. After the death of the 1st Marquess in 1845 they followed the family tradition and moved back to Eaton Hall.
The couple Westminster had 13 children, ten of whom survived to adulthood; three offspring was over 90 years old.
- Lady Eleanor Grosvenor (1820-1911), married to Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland
- Lady Mary Frances Grosvenor (1821-1912), married to Thomas Parker, 6th Earl of Macclesfield
- Gilbert Grosvenor (1823-1824)
- Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor (1824-1899), married to Beilby Lawley, 2nd Baron Wenlock
- Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster ( 1825-1899 )
- Lady Evelyn Grosvenor ( 1826-1839 ).
- Lady Caroline Amelia Grosvenor (1828-1906), married to William Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh.
- Lady Octavia Grosvenor (1829-1921), married to Sir Michael Shaw - Stewart, 7th Baronet.
- Lady Agnes Grosvenor (1831-1909), married to Sir Archibald Campbell, 3rd Baronet.
- Lord Norman Gilbert Grosvenor (1833-1854)
- Lady Jane Louisa Octavia Grosvenor (1834-1921), married to Gamel Pennington, 4th Baron Muncaster, in second marriage to Hugh Lindsay
- Richard Grosvenor, 1st Baron Stalbridge ( 1837-1912 ).
- Lady Theodora Grosvenor (1840-1924), married to Thomas Guest
Lord Westminster died in Fonthill House in Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire, after a short illness. He was Buried in the family vault at St. Mary's Church. The fortune he left behind, was estimated to be around £ 800,000 (£ 56,990,000 after today's value ).