George Dawson-Damer

George Lionel Dawson-Damer CB PC was born on 28 October 1788 and died on 14 April 1856. He was a member of the British Conservative Party and held various military and political positions during his lifetime.

Family Background and Name

Dawson-Damer was a younger son of John Dawson, 1st Earl of Portarlington, and Lady Caroline, daughter of Prime Minister John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. In 1829, he assumed the additional surname of Damer by royal sign-manual upon inheriting a portion of his aunt Lady Caroline Damer's estates.

Military Career

He served on the staff of Sir Robert Wilson and was present with the Russian army during the retreat of French cavalry from Moscow in October 1812. In 1813, he participated in several battles, including Lützen, Bautzen, Dresden, Kulm, Wurzen, and the Siege of Hamburg, as well as operations in Holstein. In 1815, he was appointed quartermaster general to the Prince of Orange and served with the 1st King's Dragoon Guards. Dawson-Damer participated in the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo during the Napoleonic Wars, where he was wounded and had two horses shot under him. For his military service, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

Political Career

Dawson-Damer was elected as Member of Parliament for Portarlington in 1835 and held this seat until 1847. He served as Comptroller of the Household under Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel from 1841 to 1846. Following this, he represented Dorchester in Parliament from 1847 to 1852.

Family and Personal Life

In 1825, he married Mary Georgiana Emma, daughter of Lord Hugh Seymour and Lady Anne Horatia Waldegrave. Mary was the author of "Diary of A Tour in Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and The Holy Land" published in 1841. The marriage produced five daughters and one son: Lady Georgiana Augusta Charlotte Caroline Dawson-Damer (who married Hugh Fortescue, 3rd Earl Fortescue), Lady Evelyn Mary Stuart Dawson-Damer, Lady Cecilia Blanche Horatia Seymour Dawson-Damer, Alice Henrietta Dawson-Damer, Lady Constance Wilhelmina Frances Dawson-Damer (who married Sir John Leslie, 1st Baronet), and Lionel Seymour William Dawson-Damer, who became the 4th Earl of Portarlington.

Death and Legacy

Mary Dawson-Damer died in October 1848. Dawson-Damer survived her by nearly eight years, passing away in April 1856 at the age of 67. He is buried in St Peter's Church, Winterborne Came, where a memorial commemorates him. His son Lionel succeeded as the Earl of Portarlington upon the death of his cousin, Henry Dawson-Damer, 3rd Earl of Portarlington, in 1889.