Name George 3rd Role Politician | Died September 17, 1772 Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford | |
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Born 21 May 1718
Windsor Castle ( 1718-05-21 ) Parents George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield Grandparents Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield Great-grandparents Charles II of England, Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland | ||
George Henry Lee II, 3rd Earl of Lichfield PC (21 May 1718 – 17 September 1772) was a British politician and peer. He was made a Privy Councillor and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1762, holding both honors until death. Previously, he had served as Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire from 1740 until acceding to the peerage in 1743.
Contents
Biography
He was born at Windsor Castle on 21 May 1718, the son of George Henry Lee I, 2nd Earl of Lichfield and his wife, Frances Hales. From birth he was styled Viscount Quarendon. In the family tradition, he was educated at St John's College, Oxford. On 14 February 1732 he was made an M.A. of Oxford. In 1740 and from 1741 to 1742, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the county of Oxford, and in the next year, upon the death of his father on 15 February 1743, Viscount Quarendon became the 3rd Earl of Lichfield.
He went on to earn his D.C.L. of Oxford on 25 August 1743. 23 years later, on 19 August of the year 1760, Lichfield received the great position of High Steward of the University of Oxford. On 9 December 1760, he became Lord of the Bedchamber to King George III; and on 12 July 1762, Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. He joined the Privy Council on 14 July 1762. He replaced George Huddesford as the Deputy Ranger of Hampton Court Park in July 1762. Finally, on 23 September 1762, he assumed the role of Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
From the Gentleman's Magazine, XXXIII., p. 349:
"The graceful dignity, the polite condescension, the ne quid nimis ('Let there be nothing in Excess') of the Chancellor were universally admired" — 1763.
In brief, he earned his D.C.L. of Oxford degree on 27 September 1762; became a Vice-President of the Society of Arts; and a Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire county on 17 October 1763.
Family
He married Diana or Dinah, daughter of Sir Thomas Frankland; they had no children, and the Earldom of Lichfield passed to his uncle Robert Lee upon his death on 19 September 1772.
End of the line
The 3rd and 4th Earls, George Henry II and Robert Lee respectively, died without issue, therefore the estate eventually reverted to the 2nd Earl's eldest surviving daughter, and sister of the 3rd Earl, Lady Charlotte Lee. In 1744 Charlotte had married the 11th Viscount Dillon. Their son Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon inherited the estate of Ditchley but not the title. Ditchley remained the home of the Viscounts Dillon until 1934.
The title was created for a third time when Thomas Anson was created Earl of Lichfield in the 1831 coronation honors of William IV.