Charles Grey (British Army officer)

For other people named Charles Grey, see Charles Grey (disambiguation).

General Charles Grey (15 March 1804 – 31 March 1870) was a British army officer, member of the British House of Commons and political figure in Lower Canada. In the last two decades of his life, he served successively as private secretary to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.

General The Honourable[1] Charles Grey
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
In office 1861–1870
Monarch	Victoria
Preceded by	Albert, Prince Consort (unofficial)
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Ponsonby
Personal details
Born	(1804-03-15)15 March 1804
Died	31 March 1870(1870-03-31) (aged 66)
Nationality	British
Spouse	Caroline Eliza Grey (née Farquhar)
Children	5, including Albert, Mary and Louisa
Parent(s)	Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey The Hon. Mary Ponsonby

Early life

He was born in Northumberland, England, in 1804, the second son of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by his wife, the Hon. Mary Ponsonby, daughter of William Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby. He was the younger brother of Henry, the 3rd Earl Grey. After a good private education he joined the British Army as a sub-lieutenant in 1820 and commanded the 73rd Regiment of Foot from 1833 to 1842.

Career

Grey represented Wycombe in the British House of Commons from 1832 to 1837, defeating Disraeli to win the seat, which he held until 1837.^[2]

In 1838 he went to Canada with his brother-in-law, John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, where he was named a member of the Executive Council and Special Council of Lower Canada in June of that year, serving until 2 November. He returned to England with Lambton later that month and later obtained the influential position of secretary to Prince Albert from 1849 to 1861 and secretary to the Queen from 1861 until his death in 1870.

He was given the colonelcy of the 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot in 1860, and transferred to the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot in 1863, a position he held until his death. He was promoted full general in 1865.

Personal life

In 1836, he had married Caroline Eliza, daughter of Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar, 2nd baronet. Their children included:

• Sybil Mary Grey (born 1848), married William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans
• Charles Grey (died young in 1855)
• Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey, served as Governor-General of Canada.
• Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth Grey (1853–1922), married Lewis Payn Dawnay, son of William Dawnay, 7th Viscount Downe
• Louisa Jane Grey (1855–1949), married William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim, and served as pro tempore Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria
• Mary Caroline Grey (1858–1940), married Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto

In popular culture

A character named Earl Grey, perhaps representing a fictitious descendant of Charles Grey, appears in the popular manga and anime franchise Black Butler. He plays a key role in 'Black Butler: Book of Murder' and has been a popular character throughout the series.