MACARTNEY. -391 as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the British court, in which he finally concluded the treaty of commerce, were among the testimonies of approbation and respect which Sir George Macartney obtained by his conduct in this diplomatic mission to the North. Thus successful and distinguished, he returned to the British court about the close of the year 1767. Early in the fol lowing year, he married Lady Jane Stuart, second daughter of the Earl of Bute. By this marriage he had contracted a relationship to Sir James Lowther, afterwards Earl of Lonsdale; and by that gentleman's interest with, or influence over, the electors, he was returned, in the same year, one of the representatives of the borough of Cocker mouth; after which we find him chosen a representative in the Irish parliament for the borough of Armagh. In 1769, Sir George was nominated principal secretary to the late Marquis Townsend, in the high office which he then filled of lord-lieutenant of Ireland. In 1772, he was nominated by his sovereign, knight of the Bath; and in 1775, went out as governor of Grenada and Tobago. He continued there till 1779, when, on the capture of those islands by the French, he was taken prisoner, and sent to France. In 1776, he had been made an Irish peer by the title of Lord Macartney, Baron Lissanoure, in the county of Antrim. As the loss of Grenada had not occurred from any misconduct in him, while his defence of it had indeed been signalised by the most illustrious display of all bis great qualities, he met with a very gracious reception from his sovereign on his return. In 1780, he was chosen to represent Beeralstone in the British parliament; and, in the following winter, he was appointed governor and resi dent of Fort St. George, at Madras, in the East Indies: and he went without delay to discharge the functions of his appointment, where his conduct obtained such universal approbation, that, in 1785, he was appointed to the high office of governor-general of Bengal, which, however, after due consideration, he chose to decline, and returned to England. In 1780, he received a flattering testimony
