John Fox-Strangways

The Honourable John George Charles Fox-Strangways (6 February 1803 – 8 September 1859) was a British diplomat, Whig politician, and courtier.

Left: Arms of Strangways: Sable, two lions passant paly of six argent and gules. The Earl of Ilchester's arms are Strangways quartering Fox;^[1] right: Canting arms of Fox: Ermine, on a chevron azure three fox's heads and necks erased or on a canton of the second a fleur-de-lys of the third

Mural monument to Hon. John George Charles Fox-Strangways (1803–1859), Ilchester Chapel of All Saints Church, Farley, Wiltshire

Early life

Fox-Strangways was the posthumous third son of Henry Fox-Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester and his second wife, Maria Digby, daughter of The Very Reverend William Digby. The 3rd and 4th Earls of Ilchester were respectively his elder half-brother and brother. Louisa Fitzmaurice-Petty, Marchioness of Lansdowne was his half-sister.^[2]

Political career

Fox-Strangways was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Calne in 1836, a seat he held until 1837.^[3] He then represented Dorset until 1841.^[4]

Fox-Strangways was also in the Foreign Office and served as a Gentleman Usher to Queen Adelaide.^[2]

Marriage and children

Fox-Strangways married Amelia, daughter of Edward Marjoribanks, in 1844. They had two children:^[2]

• Lady Maria Georgiana Julia Fox-Strangways (died 12 October 1922), married Arthur Hood, 2nd Viscount Bridport.
• Henry Edward Fox-Strangways, 5th Earl of Ilchester (13 September 1847 - 6 December 1905)

Fox-Strangways died in September 1859, aged 56. His wife died in September 1886.^[2]

Their son, Henry, succeeded his uncle William Fox-Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester in the earldom of Ilchester in 1865.