George Percy, 5th Duke of Northumberland

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 his peerage on 12 February 1865, after the death of his childless cousin Algernon Percy.

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 first cousin as 5th Duke of Northumberland.

Northumberland was also a president of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Family

Northumberland married Louisa, third daughter of James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, on 22 June 1801. Their children were:

• Lady Louisa Percy (1802 – 23 December 1883), died unmarried.
• Algernon James Percy, (1803–1805), buried within the Northumberland Vault within Westminster Abbey.
• Margaret Percy, (1805–1810), buried within the Northumberland Vault within Westminster Abbey.
• Henry Algernon Pitt Percy, (1806–1809), buried within the Northumberland Vault within Westminster Abbey.
• Alice Percy (1809–1819)
• Algernon George Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland (1810 – 1899)
• Lord Josceline William Percy (1811 – 1881), married Margaret Davidson and had issue.
• Lady Margaret Percy (1813 – 16 May 1897), married Edward Littleton, 2nd Baron Hatherton.
• General Lord Henry Hugh Manvers Percy, V.C. (1817–1877), died unmarried.

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.

References

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Northumberland