George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey

The Right Honourable
The Earl of Jersey
GCH, PC
Lord Chamberlain of the Household
In office
24 July 1830  24 November 1830
Monarch William IV
Prime Minister The Duke of Wellington
Preceded by The Duke of Montrose
Succeeded by The Duke of Devonshire
In office
15 December 1834  8 April 1835
Monarch William IV
Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Bt
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire
Succeeded by The Marquess Wellesley
Master of the Horse
In office
4 September 1841  29 June 1846
Monarch Victoria
Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Bt
Preceded by The Earl of Albermarle
Succeeded by The Duke of Norfolk
In office
1 March 1852  17 December 1852
Monarch Victoria
Prime Minister The Earl of Derby
Preceded by The Duke of Norfolk
Succeeded by The Duke of Wellington
Personal details
Born 19 August 1773 (1773-08-19)
Died 3 October 1859 (1859-10-04) (aged 86)
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Lady Sarah Fane (17851867)
Alma mater St John's College, Cambridge

George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey GCH, PC (19 August 1773 3 October 1859), styled Viscount Villiers until 1805, was a British courtier and Conservative politician from the Villiers family.

Background and education

Styled Viscount Villiers from birth, he was the son of George Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey, by his wife Frances Twysden, daughter of the Right Reverend Philip Twysden, Bishop of Raphoe. He attended Harrow and obtained a Masters of Arts degree from St John's College, Cambridge. He was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales in 1795.[1]

Political career

Lord Jersey succeeded in the earldom on the death of his father in 1805 and took his seat in the House of Lords. He served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under the Duke of Wellington between July[2] and November 1830 and was sworn of the Privy Council in July 1830.[3] He was Lord Chamberlain for a second time under Sir Robert Peel from 1834 to 1835. He again held office under Peel as Master of the Horse from 1841 to 1846, and again briefly under Lord Derby in 1852. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law by the University of Oxford.[4]

Family

Lord Jersey married Lady Sarah Sophia Fane, daughter of John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland, on 23 May 1804. She was the eldest grandchild and heiress of Robert Child, principal shareholder of the banking firm Child & Co. Lord Jersey added the surname Child to the Villiers surname by royal licence in 1819.[4] Lady Jersey was one of the great hostesses of English society, a leader of the ton during the Regency era and the reign of George IV, and a patroness of Almack's. Lord Jersey was an ardent fox hunter and a breeder and trainer of horses, owning two Epsom Derby winners, in Mameluke (1827) and Bay Middleton (1836) as well as other notable thoroughbreds such as Glencoe.[5] His wife's numerous love affairs never troubled him: asked why he had never fought a duel in her honour, he replied that he could hardly fight every man in London.[6]

Lord and Lady Jersey had seven children:

Lord Jersey died on 3 October 1859, aged 86, and was succeeded by his eldest son, George. The Countess of Jersey died in January 1867, aged 81.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Montrose
Lord Chamberlain
1830
Succeeded by
The Duke of Devonshire
Preceded by
The Duke of Devonshire
Lord Chamberlain
18341835
Succeeded by
The Marquess Wellesley
Preceded by
The Earl of Albermarle
Master of the Horse
18411846
Succeeded by
The Duke of Norfolk
Preceded by
The Duke of Norfolk
Master of the Horse
1852
Succeeded by
The Duke of Wellington
Peerage of England
Preceded by
George Villiers
Earl of Jersey
18051859
Succeeded by
George Child Villiers
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