Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon

Colonel Henry George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon DL, FSA (3 June 1772 – 16 April 1833), styled The Honourable Henry Herbert from 1780 to 1793 and Lord Porchester from 1793 to 1811, was a British peer, nobleman, and Whig politician.

Background and education

Born in Hill Street in London, Herbert was the oldest son of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon, and Lady Elizabeth Alicia Maria Wyndham, the oldest daughter of Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont. He was baptised in St George's, Hanover Square on 22 June 1772. His younger brothers were the sailor Charles Herbert and the botanist William Herbert. Another brother, Algernon Herbert was an antiquary. Herbert was educated at Eton until 1789.

Career

Herbert joined the Royal Wiltshire Militia as captain in 1790 and when the West Somerset Yeomanry was raised in 1794 became its major. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel four years later and obtained colonelcy of the regiment in 1803. Having been elected for Cricklade, Herbert entered the British House of Commons in 1794. After the Act of Union 1801 he represented the constituency then in the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1811, when he succeeded his father as earl. During his time as Member of Parliament he stirred an investigation into the failure of the Walcheren Campaign in 1809. Herbert was nominated a Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Somerset in 1803 and served as High Steward of Newbury. He was chosen a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1814 and was vice-president of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Family

On 26 April 1796, he married Elizabeth Kitty Acland, at St George Hanover Square. She was the only daughter of Colonel John Dyke Acland and sister of Sir John Dyke Acland, 8th Baronet. The couple had five children, three daughters and two sons. His wife died at Shooter's Hill in 1813; Herbert survived her for twenty years until 1833. He died, aged 60, at his London residence in Grosvenor Square and was buried in Burghclere in Hampshire. He was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Henry.