George Lee, 3rd Earl of Lichfield

George Henry Lee II, 3rd Earl of Lichfield PC (21 May 1718 – 17 September 1772) was a British politician and peer. He was made a Privy Councillor and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1762, holding both honors until death. Previously, he had served as Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire from 1740 until acceding to the peerage in 1743.

Biography

He was born at Windsor Castle on May 21 1718, the son of George Henry Lee I, 2nd Earl of Lichfield and his wife, Frances Hales. From birth he was styled Viscount Quarendon. In the family tradition, he was educated at St John's College, Oxford. On February 14 1732, he was made an M.A. of Oxford. In 1740 and from 1741 to 1742 he served as MP for the county of Oxford, and in the next year, upon the death of his father on February 15 1743, Viscount Quarendon became the 3rd Earl of Lichfield.

He went on to earn his D.C.L. of Oxford on August 25 1743. 23 years later, on August 19 of the year 1760, Lichfield received the great position of High Steward of the University of Oxford. On December 9 1760 he became Lord of the Bedchamber to King George III; and on July 12 1762, Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. He joined the Privy Council on July 14 1762. He replaced George Huddesford as the Deputy Ranger of Hampton Court Park in July, 1762. Finally, on September 23, 1762, he assumed the role of Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

From the "Gentleman's Magazine", XXXIII., p. 349:

"The graceful dignity, the polite condescension, the "ne quid nimis" ('Let there be nothing in Excess') of the Chancellor were universally admired" — 1763.

In brief, he earned his D.C.L. of Oxford degree on September 27, 1762; became a Vice-President of the Society of Arts; and a Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire county on October 17 1763.

He married Diana or Dinah, daughter of Sir Thomas Frankland; they had no children, and the Earldom of Lichfield passed to his uncle Robert Lee upon his death on September 19 1772.

End of the Line

The 3rd and 4th Earls, George Henry II and Robert Lee respectively, died without issue, therefore the estate eventually reverted to the 2nd Earl's eldest surviving daughter, and sister of the 3rd Earl, Lady Charlotte Lee. In 1744 Charlotte had married the 11th Viscount Dillon. Their son Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon inherited the estate of Ditchley but not the title. Ditchley remained the home of the Viscounts Dillon until 1934.

The title was created for a third time when Thomas Anson was created Earl of Lichfield in the 1831 coronation honors of William IV.

See also

Lee Baronets of Quarendon, Buckinghamshire 1611 - 1776

References

*rayment