Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent

Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent (1671 – 5 June 1740), was a British politician and courtier. None of his sons outlived him, so his new title became extinct on his death. Though the house he built at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire has gone, parts of his very grand garden have survived relatively untouched.

Family He was a son of Anthony Grey, 11th Earl of Kent, and Mary Grey, 1st Baroness Lucas. He succeeded his father as Earl of Kent in 1702, having succeeded his mother as Baron Lucas earlier the same year. He was the grandfather, through his daughter Anne Grey, of Henry Cavendish, the preeminent English chemist and physicist of the late 18th century.

Political career Having taken his seat in the House of Lords and though regarded as lacking talent and ambition he, as the politically expedient candidate, was made Lord Chamberlain and a Privy Councillor in 1704. Grey was unpopular; he was nicknamed 'Bug' for his body odour. He traded his position for a dukedom in 1710, and was succeeded as Lord Chamberlain by the Duke of Shrewsbury. Contemporary commentators including John Macky and Jonathan Swift did defend Grey. He might have been, for his time, the right man in the right place. They had at least six children:

Anthony Grey, Earl of Harold (1695–1723). Married Lady Mary Tufton, a daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet, and Lady Catharine Cavendish. Henry Grey (c. 1696 – 1717). Amabel Grey (died 2 March 1726). Married John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland. Jemima Grey (c. 1699 – 7 July 1731). Married John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham. Anne Grey (died 20 September 1733). Married Lord Charles Cavendish. Mary Grey. Married David Gregory of Christ Church.

He married secondly Lady Sophia Bentinck (died 5 June 1741) on 24 March 1729, a daughter of William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, and his second wife Jane Martha Temple. They had a son and a daughter:

George Grey, Earl of Harold (c. 1732 – 1733) Anne Sophia Grey (died 24 March 1780). Married John Egerton, Bishop of Durham.

Footnotes