Henry William Greville

Henry William Greville was born on October 28, 1801, and died on December 12, 1872. He was an English aristocrat and diarist, the youngest son of Charles Greville. His paternal grandfather was the fifth Lord Warwick. His mother was Lady Charlotte Cavendish Bentinck, the eldest daughter of William Cavendish-Bentinck, the 3rd Duke of Portland.

Greville received his education at Westminster School and later attended Christ Church, Oxford. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree on June 4, 1823. Much of his early life was spent on the European continent, primarily in Brussels, where his family resided. During this period, he learned to speak French and Italian fluently. He was present at the ball given by the Duchess of Richmond in Brussels on the night before the Battle of Waterloo, an event attended by the Duke of Wellington.

In his professional career, Greville served as private secretary to Lord Francis Egerton, who later became the Earl of Ellesmere, during his tenure as Chief Secretary for Ireland. Between 1834 and 1844, he was an attaché at the British embassy in Paris. Subsequently, he held the position of gentleman usher at court.

Greville was known for his social interests, particularly in music and drama. The actress Fanny Kemble described him as having a fine voice and a handsome appearance in her writings. It is documented that Greville was homosexual and had a close relationship with the artist Frederic Leighton, whom he met in Florence in 1856. His letters to Leighton contain affectionate nicknames such as "Fay" and "Bimbo," and he addressed him as “dear boy.” However, there is no indication that the relationship was reciprocated to the same degree.

He died at his residence in Mayfair, London, on December 12, 1872. Greville was also a diarist; he kept detailed diaries over many years, recording both public and private events that interested him. A portion of his diaries was edited and published by his niece, Viscountess Enfield, under the title "Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville" in 1883–1884, spanning two volumes. The diaries are considered historically significant, particularly for the period when Greville was stationed in Paris from 1834 to 1844, due to his position and experiences during that time.

References in this account are derived from the "Dictionary of National Biography," published in London by Smith, Elder & Co., between 1885 and 1900.