Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lennox, George Henry

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1435429Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 33 — Lennox, George Henry1893William Arthur Jobson Archbold

LENNOX, GEORGE HENRY (1737–1805), general, eighth child of Charles Lennox, second duke of Richmond [q. v.], was born in London on 29 Nov. 1737. He became ensign in the 2nd foot-guards on 15 Feb. 1754. He was appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland, made a campaign in Germany in 1757, and took part in the expedition to the French coast in 1758. On 8 May 1758 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the 33rd foot, in succession to his elder brother, Charles. In 1760 and 1761 he served in Germany, and on 20 Feb. 1762 was made aide-de-camp to the king with the rank of colonel. On 22 Dec. 1762 he was attached to the 25th foot. In 1763 he was brigadier to the forces in Portugal. Proceeding with his regiment to Minorca he had a quarrel with the governor, General Mostyn, about the quality of the wine served to the men. However, Mostyn afterwards threw one Fabrigas, a wine merchant, into prison, and thus arose the celebrated leading case of Fabrigas v. Mostyn, tried in 1773, in which Fabrigas recovered 10,000l. damages. In 1765 Lennox accompanied his brother Charles to the court of France as secretary of legation, and was left chargé d'affaires in his absence. He became major-general on 25 May 1772, constable of the Tower of London in 1783, a privy councillor on 9 Feb. 1784, and full general on 25 Oct. 1793. He was afterwards made governor of Plymouth, and died at Stoke, near Plymouth, on 22 March 1805. He married in 1758 Louisa, daughter of William Henry, fourth marquis of Lothian, and by her left Charles [q. v.] (who on the death of Charles, third duke, in 1806, succeeded as fourth duke of Richmond, and is noticed separately) and three daughters, the second of whom, Emilia Charlotte, married in 1784 the Hon. Sir George Cranfield Berkeley [q. v.]

[Burke's Peerage; Collins's Peerage (Brydges), i. 186; Gent. Mag. 1805, i. 294, 580; Report of Fabrigas v. Mostyn, 1773.]

W. A. J. A.