GEORGE NUGENT TEMPLE GRENVILLE, Ist marquess of Buck ingham (1753-1813), the second son of George Grenville, was born on June 17, 17 53. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, he was M.P. for Buckinghamshire from 1774-79. In the House of Commons he was a sharp critic of the American policy of Lord North. In Sept. 1779 he succeeded his uncle as 2nd Earl Temple; in July 1782 he became a member of the privy council and lord-lieutenant of Ireland in the Rockingham minis try. On his advice the Irish Judicature Act of 1783 was passed, which supplemented the legislative independence granted to Ire land in 1782. By royal warrant he created the order of St. Patrick in Feb. 1783, with himself as the first grand master. Temple left Ireland in 1783, and again turned his attention to English politics. He enjoyed the confidence of George III., and having opposed Fox's East India bill, he was authorized by the king to say that "whoever voted for the India bill was not only not his friend, but would be considered by him as an enemy," a message which ensured the defeat of the bill. He was appointed a secre tary of state when the younger Pitt formed his ministry in Dec. 1783, but resigned two days later. In Dec. 1784 he was created marquess of Buckingham "in the county of Buckingham." In Nov. 1787 he was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland under Pitt, but his second tenure of this office was hardly as successful as the first. He was denounced by Grattan for extravagance; was censured by the Irish houses of parliament for refusing to transmit to England an address calling upon the prince of Wales to assume the regency; and he could only maintain his position by resorting to bribery on a large scale. He resigned in Sept.
1789, and subsequently took very little part in politics, although he spoke in favour of the union with Ireland. He died at Stowe House, Buckingham, on Feb. 11 1813.
His elder son, RICHARD GRENVILLE, 1st duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1776-1839), was M.P. for Buckinghamshire from 1797 to 1813, and, as Earl Temple, took an active part in politics. In Feb. 1813 he succeeded his father as marquess of Bucking ham; and having married the only child of the 3rd duke of Chandos, he was created duke of Buckingham and Chandos in 1822. Owing to financial embarrassments, the duke lived out of England for some time, and in 1862 an account of his travels was published, as The Private Diary of Richard, Duke of Buck ingham and Chandos.
He was succeeded by his only child, RICHARD GRENVILLE, 2nd duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1797-1861). Educated at Eton and Oriel college, Oxford, he was known as Earl Temple and subsequently as marquess of Chandos. He was M.P. for Buckinghamshire from 1818 to 1839, and was responsible for the "Chandos clause" in the Reform bill of 1832. He was lord privy seal from Sept. 1841 to Jan. 1842, and partly owing to his op position to the repeal of the corn laws was known as the "Farmers' Friend." In 1847 his residences were seized by his creditors, and the duke left England for a time. He died in London, on July 2g, 1861. He wrote : Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George III. (London, ; Memoirs of the Court of England, 1811-182o (London, 1856) ; Memoirs of the Court of George IV. (London, 1859) ; and Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of William 1V. and Victoria (London, 1861).