George Weld-Forester, 3rd Baron Forester

George Cecil Weld-Forester, 3rd Baron Forester, PC (10 May 1807 – 14 February 1886), styled The Honourable George Weld-Forester between 1821 and 1874, was a British Conservative politician and army officer. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household in 1852 and from 1858 to 1859. A long-standing MP, he was the Father of the House of Commons from 1873 to 1874, when he succeeded his elder brother in the barony and took a seat in the House of Lords.

Early life Weld-Forester, born at Sackville Street, London was the second son of Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester, and Lady Katherine Mary Manners, daughter of Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland. His elder brother John Weld-Forester, 2nd Baron Forester, was also a Tory politician Both the brothers had, as godfather at the same christening, the Prince of Wales, later King George IV, a personal friend of their father.

He was educated at Westminster School. He had been Groom of the Bedchamber to William IV from 1830 to 1831 and December 1852 and from 1858 to 1859. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 1852. In 1873 he became Father of the House of Commons as the longest-serving member (then 45 years) of the House. The following year he succeeded his elder brother as third Baron Forester and entered the House of Lords. In 1878 he served as treasurer of the Salop Infirmary in Shrewsbury.

Personal life

Lord Forester married the Honourable Mary Anne Jervis, daughter of Edward Jervis, 2nd Viscount St Vincent, and widow of David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre, in 1862. They had no children.

Lord Forester died at 3 Carlton Gardens , London, in February 1886, aged 78, and was buried at Willey parish church.