Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford

Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford, PC, FRS, FSA (4 July 1751 – 21 October 1812), styled Lord Guernsey between 1757 and 1777, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1772 to 1777 when he succeeded to a peerage. He was also a landscape artist.

Background and education Aylesford was the son of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford, and Lady Charlotte Seymour, daughter of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset and Lady Charlotte Finch. He was born at his maternal grandfather, Duke of Somerset's residence, Syon House, near London. (At the time was already inherited by his heiress maternal half-first cousin Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland)

He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.

Political career Aylesford was returned to parliament for Castle Rising in 1772, a seat he held until 1774, and then represented Maidstone until 1777, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords. He was a Lord of the Bedchamber to George III between 1777 and 1783. The latter year he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard A. P. Oppe wrote an article giving some background and listing 85 of Aylesford's etchings titled The Fourth Earl of Aylesford. The Print Collector's Quarterly 1924, Vol 11, p. 263. Lord Aylesford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1773 and was a trustee of the British Museum between 1787 and 1812. Lady Charlotte Finch (31 January 1785 – 17 January 1869), married Charles Palmer on 22 January 1823. Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of Aylesford (24 April 1786 – 1859) Lady Mary Finch (c. 1788 - 24 July 1823) Hon. Daniel Finch (25 February 1789 – 17 January 1868), artist. Lady Elizabeth Finch (22 February 1790 - 1 June 1879) Lady Frances Finch (1 February 1791 – 12 July 1886), unmarried Hon. Edward Finch (1792 – 9 April 1830) Lieutenant-General the Hon. John Finch (1793 – 25 November 1861), married in 1835 Katherine Ellice (d. 1872) Hon. Henry Finch (1795–1829) Lady Henrietta Finch (c. 1798 - 1828) Hon. Charles Finch (b. 1799 - 19 Novembre 1859) Lady Caroline Finch (c. 1800 - 1821)

Hon. Charles and Lady Caroline (buried Jan 27 1797)

Lord Aylesford died at Great Packington, Warwickshire, in October 1812, aged 61, from gout in the stomach. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Heneage. The Countess of Aylesford died in December 1832, aged 72.

Legacy namesake of Aylesford, Nova Scotia