Francis Egerton

Francis Egerton was born on 15 September 1824. He was originally known as Francis Leveson-Gower until 1833, when he adopted the surname Egerton. He was the second son of Harriet Catherine Greville, Countess of Ellesmere, and Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere. His father served as Secretary at War and Chief Secretary for Ireland. His paternal lineage connected him to the Egerton family, which held substantial wealth inherited from Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, though the family titles were not part of his direct inheritance. His mother was a great-great-granddaughter of the 5th Baron Brooke, daughter of Charles Greville. His grandparents on his father's side were George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland, and Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, daughter of the 18th Earl of Sutherland. His maternal uncle served as the private secretary to the Duke of Wellington.

Egerton joined the Royal Navy in 1840. His early naval service included active participation in the Oriental Crisis of 1840, during which he served off the Syrian coast and participated in the bombardment of Acre. During the Crimean War, he commanded HMS Basilisk and achieved the rank of captain in 1855. Between 1865 and 1873, he served as aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.

In 1873, Egerton was promoted to Rear admiral, and he was placed on the retired list in November 1875. He later received subsequent promotions: to Vice-admiral in 1878 and to Admiral in 1884.

In addition to his naval career, Egerton was involved in politics. He served as Member of Parliament for Derbyshire East from 1868 to 1885, and subsequently for Derbyshire North-East from 1885 to 1886. In his later years, he resided in Surrey and was active in local political affairs as president of the Chertsey Division of the Central Liberal Council. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Surrey in 1893.

Egerton married Lady Louisa Caroline Cavendish in 1861. She was the daughter of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, and sister of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire. Together, they had several children, including William Francis Egerton (1868–1949), who married Lady Alice Osborne; Commander Frederick Greville Egerton (1869–1899), who died from wounds received at Ladysmith, South Africa; Blanche Harriet Egerton (1871–1943); Dorothy Charlotte Egerton (1874–1959), who was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire; and Christian Mary Egerton (1876–1970), also an MBE recipient.

Francis Egerton died on 15 December 1895 at his home in Weybridge, Surrey, due to heart disease. He was 71 years old and was buried at Byfleet.

His descendants include his grandson, Captain Francis Egerton (1896–1935), who married the Hon. Doris Mary Pottinger Meysey-Thompson. She was the daughter of Henry Meysey-Thompson, 1st Baron Knaresborough, and Ethel Adeline Pottinger, daughter of Sir Henry Pottinger, 3rd Baronet. Through this line, he was connected to various notable families, including the families of Peter Richard Legh, 4th Baron Newton, and Giles Vandeleur of the Howard family.