Monarch Victoria Political party Tory Name George 5th | Died August 22, 1867 Nationality British Spouse Louisa Wortley | |
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Preceded by The Marquess of Lothian Born 22 June 1778 ( 1778-06-22 ) Parents Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley Children Algernon Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland Grandchildren Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland Cousins Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland | ||
Succeeded by The Viscount Falkland Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Bt | ||
George Percy, 5th Duke of Northumberland PC (22 June 1778 – 22 August 1867), styled Lord Lovaine between 1790 and 1830 and known as The Earl of Beverley between 1830 and 1865, was a British Tory politician. He served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard under Sir Robert Peel between 1842 and 1846. He succeeded to the title on 12 February 1865, after the death of Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland whose wife Eleanor Percy, Duchess of Northumberland had borne no children.
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Background
Born in London, he was the eldest son of Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley, second son of Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland. His mother was Susan Isabella, daughter of Peter Burrell, while Algernon Percy, The Right Reverend Hugh Percy (Bishop of Rochester and Carlisle), Josceline Percy and William Henry Percy were his younger brothers. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating with a Master of Arts in 1799.
Political career
Northumberland was returned to parliament for the rotten borough of Bere Alston in 1799, a seat he held until 1830, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords. From 1804, he served as a Lord of the Treasury for the next two years. He was sworn of the Privy Council in January 1842 and was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard (Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords) by Sir Robert Peel, a post he held until the government fell in 1846. In February 1865, at the age of 86, he succeeded his cousin as fifth Duke of Northumberland.
Northumberland was also a president of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Family
Northumberland married the Hon. Louisa, third daughter of James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, on 22 June 1801. They had five children:
Louisa, Countess of Beverley, died in June 1848. Northumberland survived her by 19 years and died in August 1867, aged 89. He was buried in the Northumberland Vault, within Westminster Abbey, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his eldest surviving son, Algernon.