Quick Facts
Biography
James Walter Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam (26 September 1775 – 17 November 1845), styled Lord Dunboyne from 1775 until 1808 and known as Viscount Grimston from 1808 to 1815, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.
Background
Grimston was the son of James Grimston, 3rd Viscount Grimston, and Harriot Walter.
Political career
In 1802 Grimston was elected to the House of Commons for St Albans, a seat he held until 1808, when he succeeded his father as fourth Viscount Grimston and second Baron Verulam and entered the House of Lords. The latter year he also succeeded his maternal cousin as tenth Lord Forrester. In 1815 Verulam was created Viscount Grimston and Earl of Verulam in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He later held the honorary post of Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire from 1823 to 1845.
Family
Lord Verulam married Lady Charlotte Jenkinson, daughter of Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool, in 1807. They had six sons and four daughters:
- James Walter Grimston, 2nd Earl of Verulam (1809–1895)
- Lady Katherine Grimston (1810–1874), married in 1834 John Foster-Barham (d. 1838), married in 1839 George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon
- Hon. Edward Harbottle Grimston (1812–1881)
- Hon. Henry Luckyn Grimston (d. 1814, young)
- Lady Emily Mary Grimston (1815–1901), married William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven
- Hon. Robert Grimston (1816–1884)
- Capt. Hon. Charles Grimston (1818–1857), Coldstream Guards
- Lady Mary Augusta Frederica Grimston (1820–1879), married Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 4th Earl of Radnor
- Rev. Hon. Francis Sylvester Grimston (1822–1865), married Katherine Morier and had issue
- Lady Jane Frederica Harriet Mary Grimston (1825–1888), married James Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon
Lord Verulam died in November 1845, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son James. Lady Verulam died in 1863.