Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton

Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton KG PC FRS (25 October 1683 – 6 May 1757) was an Irish and English politician.

Early life

He was the only child and heir of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (1663–1690) (an illegitimate son of King Charles II by his mistress Barbara Villiers) by his wife Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington. He succeeded to his father's titles on 9 October 1690.

Career

He was Lord High Steward at King George I's coronation, becoming a Privy Counsellor in 1715 and a Knight of the Garter in 1721. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1720 to 1724 and Lord Chamberlain from 1724 until his death. In 1719 he was one of the main subscribers to the Royal Academy of Music, a corporation that produced baroque opera on the stage. In 1739 he supported the creation of what was to become one of London's most notable charities, the Foundling Hospital. He sat on that charity's original Court of Governors with such fellow Governors as the Duke of Bedford, the Lord Vere and the Lord Mayor of London.

Marriage and children

He married Lady Henrietta Somerset, daughter of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester and Rebecca Child; they had seven children:

• Charles Henry FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (13 April 1714 – 18 December 1715).
• George FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (24 August 1715 – 7 July 1747). He was married 10 October 1741 to Lady Dorothy Boyle (14 May 1724 – 2 May 1742) elder daughter of Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of Cork, 3rd Earl of Burlington and his wife Lady Dorothy Savile, daughter of William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax. The Earl was notorious for mistreating his wife, who died seven months after their marriage, and died childless.
• Lord Augustus FitzRoy (16 October 1716 – 24 May 1741). He was married to Elizabeth Cosby, daughter of Colonel William Cosby, who served as a colonial Governor of New York. They were parents to two sons, who founded branches of the family still extant today:
  • Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton
  • Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton
• Lord Charles FitzRoy (23 April 1718 – 29 July 1739).
• Lady Caroline Fitzroy (8 April 1722 – 26 June 1784). She married William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington. They were parents to Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington and other six children.
• Lady Harriet FitzRoy (8 June 1723 – August 1735).
• Lady Isabella FitzRoy (1726 – 10 November 1782). She married Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford. They were parents to Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford and eleven other children. They were ancestors of Diana, Princess of Wales via their son Hugh.

The Duke also fathered an illegitimate son, Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore. Grafton Street in Dublin was named after him.