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British Army officer, courtier and peer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque, 1st Earl of Grantham PC (born Hendrik van Nassau, 1673 – 5 December 1754), was a British Army officer, courtier and peer who was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau and second cousin once removed to William III of England. He inherited the lordship of Ouwerkerk (known in English as Overkirk and in French as Auverquerque) in Holland,[1] and was a count of the Holy Roman Empire.
Henry de Nassau | |
|---|---|
| Baron Alford Lord d'Auverquerque Viscount Boston 1st Earl of Grantham | |
Arms of Nassau-den Lek and Ouwerkerk ("Auverquerque") | |
| Born | 1673 The Hague, the Dutch Republic |
| Baptised | 30 May 1673 The Hague, the Dutch Republic |
| Died | 5 December 1754 (aged 81) |
| Buried | 12 December 1754 St James's Church, Piccadilly, London |
| Noble family | Orange-Nassau |
| Spouse | Lady Henrietta Butler (1675–1724) |
| Issue | Henry, Viscount Boston Thomas, Viscount Boston Lady Frances de Nassau d'Auverquerque Emilia Mary Lady Henrietta de Nassau d'Auverquerque |
| Father | Hendrik van Nassau |
| Mother | Francoise van Aerssen |
| Occupation | Lord Chamberlain |
He was born in The Hague to the Dutch general Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque (called "Lord Overkirk" by the English) and his wife Frances van Aerssen, and baptised there 30 May 1673. On 12 January 1697, he married his first cousin Lady Henrietta Butler, daughter of Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory and sister of James Butler, Duke of Ormonde. In 1698, during his father's lifetime, he was created Baron Alford, Viscount Boston and Earl of Grantham by William III.
Despite Grantham's marriage to the sister of one of the most notorious participants in the 1715 Jacobite rising, George I appointed him Lord Chamberlain to the household of Caroline, Princess of Wales in 1717, and Grantham retained his position when the Prince of Wales succeeded as King George II in 1727 and the Princess became Queen Caroline. He remained her Lord Chamberlain until her death in 1737.
Grantham was commissioned an ensign in the 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards on 17 November 1727. He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 October 1731, and on 5 July 1735, was promoted captain-lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards.[2]
Grantham later involved himself in a project to create an orphanage for abandoned children in London, the first of its kind in the nation. The charity became known as the Foundling Hospital and received its royal charter on 17 October 1739. Lord Grantham was one of its founding Governors.
Grantham owned a house in Albemarle Street, Westminster that is now part of the premises of the Royal Institution, and a country house in Chiswick, called Grove Park.
Lord Grantham died on 5 December 1754 and was buried a week later at St James's Church, Piccadilly, Westminster.[3]
Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque married on 12 January 1697 his cousin Lady Henrietta Butler (died 11 October 1724),[4] youngest daughter of Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory by his wife Emilia van Nassau (a sister of Lord Overkirk), and sister of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde and Charles Butler, Earl of Arran, and had five children:
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