Henry Gray, 1st Duke of Kent

Henry Gray, 1st Duke of Kent ( Charles Jervas )

Henry Gray, 1st Duke of Kent KG , PC ( September 28, 1671 - June 5, 1740 ) was a British peer and politician.

life and career

Gray was the only son of Anthony Gray, 11th Earl of Kent , and Mary Gray, 1st Baroness Lucas . In 1702, when his parents died, he inherited their title of nobility.

He was inducted into the Privy Council in 1704 and appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household . He held this office for six years. 1706 he was raised to Marquess of Kent , Earl of Harold and Viscount Goderich , in 1710 Duke of Kent . After he was accepted into the Order of the Garter in 1712 , he took on another important office at the royal court as Lord Steward of the Household in 1716 . In 1719/20 he was finally Lord Privy Seal .

In addition to these court and government offices, Gray Lord Lieutenant was of Herefordshire (1704-1714), Buckinghamshire (1711-1712) and Bedfordshire (1711-1740). In 1739 he and Thomas Coram and others founded London's first home for foundlings , the Foundling Hospital .

After all three sons had died before Gray and it was clear from his age that he would die without a title heir, he was awarded the title of Marquess Gray in 1740 , which was expressly noted that he was also referring to his granddaughter Jemima , the child his eldest daughter Amabel, who had already died at this time, and her male descendants.

Gray died in June 1740 at the age of 68. Since all of his sons died before him, most of his titles expired on his death, only the titles Marquess Gray and Baron Lucas went to his granddaughter Jemima.

family

Gray was first married on April 16, 1695, Jemima Crew, daughter of Thomas Crew, 2nd Baron Crew , and Mary Townshend. The couple had at least six children, five of whom died as young adults:

• Anthony Gray, Earl of Harold , 3rd Baron Lucas (1696-1723);
• Lord Henry Gray (around 1697-1717);
• Lady Amabel Gray (1698–1727) ⚭ 1718 John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland ;
• Lady Jemima Gray (around 1700–1731) ⚭ 1724 John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham ;
• Lady Mary Gray (1719–1761) ⚭ 1743 Dr. David Gregory;
• Lady Ann Gray († 1733) ⚭ 1727 Lord Charles Cavendish, son of William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire .

In his second marriage, Gray married on March 24, 1729 Sophia Bentinck, a daughter of Johann Wilhelm Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland , and his second wife, Jane Martha Temple. There were two other children from this marriage:

• Lady Anne Sophia Gray († 1780) ⚭ 1748 Rev. John Egerton ;
• George Gray, Earl of Harold (1732-1733).

Web links

• Henry Gray, 1st and last Duke of Kent on thepeerage.com
• Kent, Duke of (GB, 1710-1740) at Cracroft's Peerage

predecessor	Office	successor
New title created	Duke of Kent 1710-1740	Title expired
New title created	Marquess of Kent 1706-1740	Title expired
New title created	Marquess Gray 1740	Jemima Yorke
Anthony Gray	Earl of Kent 1702-1740	Title expired
Mary Gray	Baron Lucas 1702-1718	Anthony Gray (by writ of acceleration )
Anthony Gray	Baron Lucas 1723-1740	Jemima Yorke