Researching Charles Grey

He was born in Northumberland, England, in 1804, the second son of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by his wife, the Hon. Mary Ponsonby, daughter of William Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby. He was the younger brother of Henry, the 3rd Earl Grey. After a good private education he joined the British Army as a sub-lieutenant in 1820 and commanded the 73rd Regiment from 1833 to 1842.

Grey represented Wycombe in the British House of Commons from 1832 to 1837, defeating Disraeli to win the seat, which he held until 1837.

In 1838 he went to Canada with his brother-in-law, John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, where he was named a member of the Executive Council and Special Council of Lower Canada in June of that year, serving until 2 November. He returned to England with Lambton later that month and later obtained the influential position of secretary to Prince Albert from 1849 to 1861 and secretary to the Queen from 1861 until his death in 1870.

He was given the colonelcy of the 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot in 1860, and transferred to the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot in 1863, a position he held until his death. He was promoted full general in 1865.

In 1836, he had married Caroline Eliza, daughter of Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar, 2nd baronet. Their children included:* Sybil Mary Grey (born 1848), married William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans * Charles Grey (died young in 1855)* Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey, served as Governor-General of Canada.* Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth Grey (1853 - 1922), married Lewis Payn Dawnay, son of William Dawnay, 7th Viscount Downe* Louisa Jane Grey (1855–1949), married William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim, and served as pro tempore Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria* Mary Caroline Grey (1858–1940), married Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto

He was a younger son of Ralph William Grey of Backworth House, Earsdon, Northumberland, and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Brandling MP, of Gosforth House, Northumberland. Grey was educated at Eton, followed by University College, Oxford, graduating in 1806, and elected a fellow of Oriel College, Oxford in 1808. He was called to the bar in 1811, and appointed a commissioner of bankruptcy in 1817. In 1820 he was appointed a Judge in the Supreme Court of Madras and knighted, serving until his transfer to be Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Bengal from 1825 to 1832.

In 1835, Grey was made a Privy Counsellor and awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order (GCH) in 1836. He was the elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tynemouth and North Shields from 1838 to 1841.

In 1841 he was appointed Governor of Barbados and the Windward Islands (covering St Lucia, Trinidad, Tobago and St Vincent) and in 1846 was appointed Governor of Jamaica.

He retired to England in 1853. He died in Tunbridge Wells in 1865 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

In April 1821, before his departure for Madras, he married Elizabeth (1801–1850), second daughter of Revd Sir Samuel Clarke Jervoise, Bt, of Idsworth Park, Hampshire. They had four sons and four daughters.