Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke Of Grafton

Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, was born on 25 October 1683 and died on 6 May 1757. He was a British peer and politician.

Early Life:

He was the only child and heir of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, who lived from 1663 to 1690. Henry FitzRoy was an illegitimate son of King Charles II of England, by his mistress Barbara Villiers. His mother was Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington, a great-granddaughter of William the Silent. Charles FitzRoy succeeded to his father's titles on 9 October 1690 upon his father's death.

Career:

Charles FitzRoy was associated with the Hanoverian-supporting Kit-Cat Club and was depicted by the artist Godfrey Kneller. He served as Lord High Steward at the coronation of King George I. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1715 and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1721. FitzRoy held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1720 to 1724 and subsequently served as Lord Chamberlain from 1724 until his death in 1757.

In 1719, he was a principal subscriber to the Royal Academy of Music, an organization producing baroque opera. He supported charitable initiatives, including the establishment of the Foundling Hospital in 1739, where he was a member of the original Court of Governors alongside figures such as John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere of Hanworth, and Micajah Perry, a Lord Mayor of London.

He was known in the royal court as “Booby Grafton.” He maintained a semi-flirtatious relationship with Princess Emily, a daughter of King George II.

Marriage and Children:

On 30 April 1713, Charles FitzRoy married Lady Henrietta Somerset, born on 27 August 1690 and died on 7 August 1726. She was the daughter of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, and Rebecca Child. They had seven children:

1. Charles Henry FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (13 April 1714 – 18 December 1715)

2. George FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (24 August 1715 – 7 July 1747)

- Married Lady Dorothy Boyle on 10 October 1741. She was the daughter of Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of Cork, and Lady Dorothy Savile. She died seven months after marriage.

- They had children, including Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, and Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton.

3. Lord Augustus FitzRoy (16 October 1716 – 24 May 1741)

- Married Elizabeth Cosby, daughter of Colonel William Cosby, colonial Governor of New York. They had two sons, founding continuing family branches.

4. Lady Caroline FitzRoy (8 April 1722 – 26 June 1784)

- Married William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington.

- Their children included Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton, and Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington.

5. Lady Harriet FitzRoy (8 June 1723 – August 1735)

6. Lady Isabella FitzRoy (1726 – 10 November 1782)

- Married Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford.

- They had children, including Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford and others.

He also had an illegitimate son named Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore.

Legacy:

Grafton Street in Dublin is named after him, as he owned property in the area. The town of Grafton, Massachusetts, bears his name. Winchester, New Hampshire, was originally named "Arlington" in his honor. Through his daughter Isabella, he is an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales.