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FITZROY, Lord Charles I (1764-1829), of Wicken, Northants.
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Biography Detail
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Family and Education
b. 17 July 1764, 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of Augustus Henry Fitzroy†, 3rd Duke of Grafton, by 1st w. Hon. Anne Liddell, da. and h. of Henry Liddell†, 1st Baron Ravensworth; bro. of George Henry Fitzroy, Earl of Euston*, half-bro. of Lords John Edward Fitzroy* and William Fitzroy*. educ. Harrow 1774; Hackney 1776; Trinity Coll. Camb. 1781. m. (1) 20 June 1795, Frances (d. 9 Aug. 1797), da. of Edward Miller Mundy* of Shipley Hall, Derbys., 1s.; (2) 10 Mar. 1799, Lady Frances Anne Stewart, da. of Robert, 1st Mq. of Londonderry, 2s. 1da.
Offices Held
Ensign 3 Ft. Gds. 1782; capt. 43 Ft. 1787; capt. and lt.-col. 3 Ft. 1789; col. 129 Ft. and a.d.c. to the King 1795; half-pay [I] 1795; maj.-gen. 1798; col. commdt. 20 Ft. 1799; half-pay 1803-4; col. 48 Ft. 1805-d.; lt.-gen. 1805, gen. 1814.
Biography
Fitzroy continued to sit for Bury on the family interest. He had supported Pitt on the Regency, but left no mark in the Parliament of 1790, apart from being listed ‘doubtful’ on the question of repeal of the Test Act in Scotland in 1791. He served in Flanders in 1793-4. In the latter year his mother left him £60,000.1 His family was aware that their interest at Bury was precarious and in the autumn of 1795 he twice applied to Pitt for patronage to prop it up,2 but was defeated in the general election of 1796. His military duties took him to Ireland 1798-9, but he was stationed at home from 1800 until 1809, much of the time in command of the garrison at Ipswich.3 In 1802 he regained his seat and held it without difficulty thereafter.
No vote of Fitzroy’s is known before 1812; but he was listed a supporter of Pitt’s second ministry in September 1804 and July 1805. In 1806 he was listed among ‘staunch friends’ of the abolition of the slave trade. He was a defaulter on the call of the House, 2 Mar., and did not vote on the question of the dismissal of the Grenville ministry in April 1807. Nevertheless, Lord Buckingham thought he should be listed among their friends, rather than doubtful.4 This would accord with his brother Euston’s line. On 2 May 1808 he obtained a month’s leave from the House for private business. In March 1810 the Whigs listed him among their adherents. He was absent on the Regency question, 1 Jan. 1811. On 4 Feb. 1812 he voted for Morpeth’s critical motion on Ireland and on 24 Apr. for Catholic relief. In the ensuing Parliament his only known votes were for the Catholic claims, 2 Mar., 13 and 24 May 1813 and 30 May 1815. No speech of his is known.
Fitzroy retired from the House in 1818. On the death of his second wife in 1810 he had retreated to his Northamptonshire estate, where he enjoyed a reputation as a philanthropist. He died 20 Dec. 1829. He is not to be confused with his cousin Gen. Charles Fitzroy (1762-1831).
