Charles Culling Smith

Charles Culling Smith (circa 1775 – 26 May 1853) was a British politician and courtier. He is primarily recognized as the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington.

**Early life**

Culling Smith was born approximately in the year 1775. His father was Charles Smith, who served as the Governor of Madras. His uncle was Sir Culling Smith, 1st Baronet. His grandfather was Thomas Smith, Esq., of Hadley, Middlesex, who was known as a prosperous merchant based in London.

**Career**

In 1809, during the tenure of Spencer Perceval's Tory government, Culling Smith's brother-in-law, the Marquess Wellesley, was appointed Foreign Secretary. Subsequently, on 13 December 1809, Culling Smith was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He held this position until 27 February 1812.

On 1 June 1812, Culling Smith served as an Esquire to his brother-in-law, the Earl of Wellington, at Wellington's installation (by proxy) as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. He served as an equerry to the Duke of York. He was present in this capacity at the funeral of Queen Charlotte on 8 December 1818, with his son attending as a Page of Honour. On 14 August 1820, he was among the mourners at the funeral of the Duchess of York, alongside his wife, son, daughter, and stepdaughters. His last official service as an equerry was at the funeral of the Duke of York on 20 January 1827.

On 13 March 1827, Culling Smith was appointed as one of the Commissioners of the Board of Customs. He continued to participate in state occasions, including the funerals of the Duke of Gloucester on 11 December 1834 and the Duke of Wellington on 18 November 1852.

**Personal life**

On 2 August 1799, Culling Smith married Lady Anne FitzRoy (1768–1844). She was the widow of the Hon. Henry FitzRoy, the fourth son of Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton, and the only daughter of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington. Through this marriage, Culling Smith gained two stepdaughters:

- Anne Caroline FitzRoy (died 1835)

- Georgiana Frederica FitzRoy (1792–1821), who married Henry Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, in 1814.

Culling Smith and Lady Anne had two children together:

- Emily Frances Culling Smith (1800–1889), who married her half-sister's widower, Lord Worcester (who succeeded his father as the 7th Duke of Beaufort), in 1822. They had one son and six daughters.

- Frederick William Culling Smith (circa 1802–1828), who was a godson of the Duke of York. He was appointed as a Page of Honour on 13 March 1812. His military career included commissions as a cornet in the 2nd Dragoon Guards on 22 April 1819, an ensign in the Coldstream Guards on 18 January 1820, and a lieutenant in the same regiment before being promoted to captain in the Royal Horse Guards on 2 January 1823. On 1 August 1826, he was promoted to major of infantry on the unattached list, later joining the 80th Regiment of Foot on 17 January 1828. He died in Malta later that year at the age of twenty-six.

The family resided in a grace-and-favour apartment at Hampton Court Palace (Apartment 8).

**References**

(References are not provided here, but in a full biography, they would cite relevant historical records and sources.)