Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 23.djvu/188

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Grey
180
Grey

the prince'e death in December 1861. He then served her majesty in the same capacity up to his death, and also as joint keeper of the privy purse from 1866. He sat in parliament in the liberal interest in 1831 for High Wycombe, and represented the same constituency in the first two reformed parliaments. On the second occasion in 1834 he was opposed by Benjamin Disraeli, who then held radical views, and polled 128 votes against Grey's 147. Grey supported Lord John Russell's motion on Irish church temporalities (1833), and opposed Sir Robert Peel's motion to divide into two bills the ministerial motion for the reform of the Irish church. He also voted against the motion of Sir William Follett to protect from the operation of the Corporation Bill such freemen as had their rights secured to them under the Reform Act. He retired from parliamentary life at the general election consequent on the queen's accession in 1837, after which he was in almost constant attendance on the sovereign. Grey was author of `Some Account of the Life and Opinions of Charles, second Earl Grey,' London, 1861, and of 'Early Years of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort,' London, 1867, compiled under direction of the queen, and translated into the French, German, and Italian languages. He is described by those who knew him well as a man of masculine mind, of great readiness and sound sense, and highly independent character, who faithfully discharged the duties of his important and delicate post.

Grey married, in July 1830, Caroline Eliza, eldest daughter of the late Sir Thomas Farquhar, second baronet, by whom he had two sons, of whom the elder died young, the second, Albert Henry George, is heir to his uncle, the present Earl Grey, and four daughters. A paralytic seizure caused his death, which took place in London on 31 March 1870, in his sixty-seventh year.

[Foster's Peerage, under 'Grey of Howick;' Life and Opinions of Charles, second Earl Grey. K.G.; Army Lists; Parl. Debates, 1831-4; Times, 1 April 1870, 12 April 1870 (reproduction of anarticle in Sat. Review, 9 April 1870). 31 May 1870 (will, personalty sworn under 5,000l.)]

H. M. C.

GREY, Sir CHARLES EDWARD (1785–1865), Indian judge and colonial governor, born in 1785, was a younger son of R. W. Grey of Backworth, Northumberland, sometime high sheriff. He was educated at University College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. 1806, and in 1808, after obtaining the English prize essay, was elected fellow of Oriel College. In 1811 he was called to the bar, and in 1817 appointed a commissioner in bankruptcy. In 1820 he became judge in the supreme court of Madras, being knighted on his appointment. He continued at Madras till his transfer in 1825 to the supreme court of Bengal as chief justice. His connection with colonial administration began in 1835, when he was sent to Canada as one of the three commissioners despatched to investigate the causes of discontent, his colleagues being Lord Gosford and Sir George Gipps. He left Canada (November 1836) before the rest of the commission, and on his return to England received the grand cross of Hanover. In 1837 he contested Tynemouth, and though unsuccessful at the election gained the seat next year (1838), when his opponent, Sir G. F. Young, was unseated on petition. From 1838 till the dissolution in 1841 he was a steady supporter of the whig administration. In 1841 he was appointed governor of Barbadoes, St. Vincent, Tobago, Trinidad, and St. Lucia, remaining in this office till 1846. From 1847 to 1853 he was governor of Jamaica, where he enjoyed a wide popularity. During the time of the discussion on the sugar duties, his despatches homeward were in favour of the maintenance of a protective or rather differential tariff (Jacob Omnium, A Third Letter to Lord Grey, with Despatches of Sir C. Grey). He was inclined to promote the immigration of labour from Africa to Jamaica (Report of the Standing Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica, 1847, p. 22). He retired to England, and died at Tunbridge Wells, 1 June 1865.

He married, 1821, the daughter of Sir S. C. Jervoise, who died in 1850, during his governorship of Jamaica.

[Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Colonial Office List; Gent. Mag. 1865, pt. ii. 123; Garneau's Histoire du Canada, vol. iii.; authorities in text.]

E. C. K. G.

GREY, EDMUND, first Earl of Kent (1420?–1489), high-treasurer of England, was eldest son of Sir John Grey, K.G., by Constance, daughter of John Holland, duke of Exeter, and grandson of Reginald, third lord Grey of Ruthin [q. v.] He was born about 1420, served in Aquitaine before 1440, was knighted on 9 Oct. 1440, having succeeded his grandfather as fourth Lord Grey of Ruthin on 30 Sept. In November of that year he was chief commissioner for a loan in Bedfordshire. His name occurs several times as present at meetings of the privy council in 1443. During the wars of the Roses Grey at first sided with the king, and in 1449 some of his followers killed William Tresham while on his way to join the Duke of York (William of Worcester, p. 769), He was sum-