George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland, KG (8 August 1786 – 27 February 1861), styled Viscount Trentham until 1803, Earl Gower between 1803 and 1833 and Marquess of Stafford in 1833, was a British peer and Whig politician from the Leveson-Gower family.
His Grace The Duke of Sutherland KG | |
---|---|
![]() The 2nd Duke of Sutherland, c. 1810. | |
Member of Parliament for Staffordshire | |
In office 1815–1820 | |
Preceded by | Lord Granville Leveson-Gower Edward Littleton |
Succeeded by | Sir John Boughey, Bt Edward Littleton |
Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme | |
In office 1812–1815 | |
Preceded by | James Macdonald Edward Bootle-Wilbraham |
Succeeded by | Sir John Chetwode, Bt Sir John Boughey, Bt |
Member of Parliament for St Mawes | |
In office 1808–1812 | |
Preceded by | Scrope Bernard Viscount Ebrington |
Succeeded by | William Shipley Scrope Bernard-Morland |
Personal details | |
Born | George Granville Leveson-Gower 8 August 1786 Portland Place, London, England |
Died | 27 February 1861 Trentham Hall, Staffordshire, England | (aged 74)
Spouse | Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard (m. 1823) |
Children | 11, including George |
Parent(s) | George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland Elizabeth Sutherland, 19th Countess of Sutherland |
Education | Harrow School |
Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |

Early life
Sutherland-Leveson-Gower was born at Portland Place, London, on 8 August 1786, and baptised at St Marylebone Parish Church. He was the eldest son of George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland, and his wife Elizabeth Sutherland, suo jure Countess of Sutherland.
He was educated at Harrow School from 1798 to 1803, then entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1806 and M.A. in 1810. In 1841 he graduated D.C.L. at the same university.
Between 1806 and 1808, Earl Gower travelled in Prussia and Russia. During the Prussian campaign against Napoleon's French forces, he spent time at the Prussians' general headquarters.
Career
After returning from Europe, Earl Gower entered the Commons as MP for the Cornwall rotten borough of St Mawes in 1808. In 1812, he transferred to sit for the Staffordshire borough of Newcastle-Under-Lyme, until 1815, when he stood to become one of the county MPs for Staffordshire, sitting until 1820.
He was also Lord Lieutenant for the County of Sutherland from 1831 until his death, was appointed High Steward of the Borough of Stafford in 1833, and was Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire from 1839 to 1845. He was appointed Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) in 1841.
Cricket
Sutherland was an active first-class cricketer in 1816 when he played for Marylebone Cricket Club and a team organised by E. H. Budd in a total of three matches.
Peerage
His father died in 1833, only six months after being created Duke of Sutherland by William IV for his support for the Reform Act 1832, and so this new title devolved on his eldest son. His mother, who was 19th Countess of Sutherland in her own right, died in 1839, and so her ancient Scottish title passed to George, who also became 20th Earl of Sutherland. As a result, the two titles were united in the same person until 1963. It was the 2nd Duke who assumed the additional surname of Sutherland, so that his family name became Sutherland-Leveson-Gower.
Personal life
On 28 May 1823, Sutherland was married to Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard (1806–1868). Lady Harriet was his first cousin once removed and a daughter of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle. Together, they were the parents of eleven children, seven daughters and four sons:
- Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1824–1878), who married George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, and had issue.
- Lady Evelyn Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1825–1869), who married Charles Stuart, 12th Lord Blantyre.
- Lady Caroline Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1827–1887), who married Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster, and had issue.
- George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland (1828–1892), who married Anne Hay-Mackenzie.
- Lady Blanche Julia Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1830–1832), who died in infancy.
- Lord Frederick George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1832–1854), who died unmarried.
- Lady Constance Gertrude Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1834–1880), who married Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, and had issue.
- Lady Victoria Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1838–1839), who died in infancy.
- Lord Albert Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1843–1874), who married Grace Abdy, daughter of Sir Thomas Neville Abdy, 1st Baronet, and had issue, including Frederick Leveson-Gower.
- Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1845–1916), who died unmarried.
- Lady Alexandrina Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1848–1849), who died in infancy.
He was a keen book collector and was one of the founder members of the Roxburghe Club in 1812. He was a trustee of the National Gallery from 1835 and of the British Museum from 1841 to his death, as well as appointed a Fine Arts Commissioner in 1841.
The Duke died, aged 75, at Trentham Hall in Staffordshire, one of his English mansions, after a period of illness.

Building projects
Sutherland was partially deaf and therefore decided not to play a very active part in politics which was the path well-worn by his contemporary peers. Instead, he expended his energies by spending some of the vast wealth which he inherited from his father on improving his homes. In 1845, he employed Sir Charles Barry to make vast alterations to Dunrobin Castle. Barry transformed the castle into the 189-room ducal palace which exists presently. In addition to Dunrobin, the Duke also had Barry completely remodel his Staffordshire seat of Trentham Hall, Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire, and the family's London townhouse, Stafford House, which was the most valuable private home in the whole of London. Queen Victoria is said to have remarked on arriving at Stafford House, "I have come from my House to your Palace."
Descendants
A very large proportion of today's British aristocracy are descended from the 2nd Duke of Sutherland. Through the marriages of his daughters, he is the ancestor of the present Dukes of Hamilton, Argyll, Roxburghe, Northumberland, Leinster, and Westminster, the present Marquesses of Hertford and Londonderry, the present earls of Selkirk, Lichfield and Cromartie, and the present Viscount Dilhorne, among many others. His male line died out on the death of his great-grandson, the 5th Duke, in 1963, and the title passed to John Egerton, a descendant of the 2nd Duke's brother Francis. The present Countess of Sutherland is also a descendant of the 2nd Duke. He was also the ancestor of the late Duchess of Beaufort, but not of the present Duke of Beaufort.
References
- "Death of the Duke of Sutherland". The Times. 2 March 1861. p. 12.
- The Complete Peerage, Volume XII. St Catherine's Press. 1953. p. 565.
- "Marylebone Pages 242-279 The Environs of London: Volume 3, County of Middlesex. Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies, London, 1795". British History Online. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- Haygarth, Arthur (1862). Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744–1826). Lillywhite. pp. 389–393.
- "House of Leveson-Gower". Archive.is. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "Obituary Notes" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 September 1892. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- Richards, Eric (2013). The Leviathan of Wealth: The Sutherland fortune in the industrial revolution. Routledge. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-135-03185-5.
- Richards, Eric (2013). The Leviathan of Wealth: The Sutherland fortune in the industrial revolution. Routledge. p. 292. ISBN 978-1-135-03185-5.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Sutherland
Author: www.NiNa.Az
Publication date:
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George Granville Sutherland Leveson Gower 2nd Duke of Sutherland KG 8 August 1786 27 February 1861 styled Viscount Trentham until 1803 Earl Gower between 1803 and 1833 and Marquess of Stafford in 1833 was a British peer and Whig politician from the Leveson Gower family His GraceThe Duke of SutherlandKGThe 2nd Duke of Sutherland c 1810 Member of Parliament for StaffordshireIn office 1815 1820Preceded byLord Granville Leveson Gower Edward LittletonSucceeded bySir John Boughey Bt Edward LittletonMember of Parliament for Newcastle under LymeIn office 1812 1815Preceded byJames Macdonald Edward Bootle WilbrahamSucceeded bySir John Chetwode Bt Sir John Boughey BtMember of Parliament for St MawesIn office 1808 1812Preceded byScrope Bernard Viscount EbringtonSucceeded byWilliam Shipley Scrope Bernard MorlandPersonal detailsBornGeorge Granville Leveson Gower 8 August 1786 Portland Place London EnglandDied27 February 1861 1861 02 27 aged 74 Trentham Hall Staffordshire EnglandSpouseLady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard m 1823 wbr Children11 including GeorgeParent s George Leveson Gower 1st Duke of Sutherland Elizabeth Sutherland 19th Countess of SutherlandEducationHarrow SchoolAlma materChrist Church Oxford Quartered arms of George Sutherland Leveson Gower 2nd Duke of Sutherland KGEarly lifeSutherland Leveson Gower was born at Portland Place London on 8 August 1786 and baptised at St Marylebone Parish Church He was the eldest son of George Leveson Gower 1st Duke of Sutherland and his wife Elizabeth Sutherland suo jure Countess of Sutherland He was educated at Harrow School from 1798 to 1803 then entered Christ Church Oxford where he graduated B A in 1806 and M A in 1810 In 1841 he graduated D C L at the same university Between 1806 and 1808 Earl Gower travelled in Prussia and Russia During the Prussian campaign against Napoleon s French forces he spent time at the Prussians general headquarters CareerAfter returning from Europe Earl Gower entered the Commons as MP for the Cornwall rotten borough of St Mawes in 1808 In 1812 he transferred to sit for the Staffordshire borough of Newcastle Under Lyme until 1815 when he stood to become one of the county MPs for Staffordshire sitting until 1820 He was also Lord Lieutenant for the County of Sutherland from 1831 until his death was appointed High Steward of the Borough of Stafford in 1833 and was Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire from 1839 to 1845 He was appointed Knight of the Order of the Garter KG in 1841 Cricket Sutherland was an active first class cricketer in 1816 when he played for Marylebone Cricket Club and a team organised by E H Budd in a total of three matches Peerage His father died in 1833 only six months after being created Duke of Sutherland by William IV for his support for the Reform Act 1832 and so this new title devolved on his eldest son His mother who was 19th Countess of Sutherland in her own right died in 1839 and so her ancient Scottish title passed to George who also became 20th Earl of Sutherland As a result the two titles were united in the same person until 1963 It was the 2nd Duke who assumed the additional surname of Sutherland so that his family name became Sutherland Leveson Gower Personal lifeOn 28 May 1823 Sutherland was married to Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard 1806 1868 Lady Harriet was his first cousin once removed and a daughter of George Howard 6th Earl of Carlisle Together they were the parents of eleven children seven daughters and four sons Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland Leveson Gower 1824 1878 who married George Douglas Campbell 8th Duke of Argyll and had issue Lady Evelyn Sutherland Leveson Gower 1825 1869 who married Charles Stuart 12th Lord Blantyre Lady Caroline Sutherland Leveson Gower 1827 1887 who married Charles FitzGerald 4th Duke of Leinster and had issue George Sutherland Leveson Gower 3rd Duke of Sutherland 1828 1892 who married Anne Hay Mackenzie Lady Blanche Julia Sutherland Leveson Gower 1830 1832 who died in infancy Lord Frederick George Sutherland Leveson Gower 1832 1854 who died unmarried Lady Constance Gertrude Sutherland Leveson Gower 1834 1880 who married Hugh Grosvenor 1st Duke of Westminster and had issue Lady Victoria Sutherland Leveson Gower 1838 1839 who died in infancy Lord Albert Sutherland Leveson Gower 1843 1874 who married Grace Abdy daughter of Sir Thomas Neville Abdy 1st Baronet and had issue including Frederick Leveson Gower Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland Leveson Gower 1845 1916 who died unmarried Lady Alexandrina Sutherland Leveson Gower 1848 1849 who died in infancy He was a keen book collector and was one of the founder members of the Roxburghe Club in 1812 He was a trustee of the National Gallery from 1835 and of the British Museum from 1841 to his death as well as appointed a Fine Arts Commissioner in 1841 The Duke died aged 75 at Trentham Hall in Staffordshire one of his English mansions after a period of illness Stafford House now renamed as Lancaster House Building projects Sutherland was partially deaf and therefore decided not to play a very active part in politics which was the path well worn by his contemporary peers Instead he expended his energies by spending some of the vast wealth which he inherited from his father on improving his homes In 1845 he employed Sir Charles Barry to make vast alterations to Dunrobin Castle Barry transformed the castle into the 189 room ducal palace which exists presently In addition to Dunrobin the Duke also had Barry completely remodel his Staffordshire seat of Trentham Hall Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire and the family s London townhouse Stafford House which was the most valuable private home in the whole of London Queen Victoria is said to have remarked on arriving at Stafford House I have come from my House to your Palace Descendants A very large proportion of today s British aristocracy are descended from the 2nd Duke of Sutherland Through the marriages of his daughters he is the ancestor of the present Dukes of Hamilton Argyll Roxburghe Northumberland Leinster and Westminster the present Marquesses of Hertford and Londonderry the present earls of Selkirk Lichfield and Cromartie and the present Viscount Dilhorne among many others His male line died out on the death of his great grandson the 5th Duke in 1963 and the title passed to John Egerton a descendant of the 2nd Duke s brother Francis The present Countess of Sutherland is also a descendant of the 2nd Duke He was also the ancestor of the late Duchess of Beaufort but not of the present Duke of Beaufort References Death of the Duke of Sutherland The Times 2 March 1861 p 12 The Complete Peerage Volume XII St Catherine s Press 1953 p 565 Marylebone Pages 242 279 The Environs of London Volume 3 County of Middlesex Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies London 1795 British History Online Retrieved 20 July 2020 Haygarth Arthur 1862 Scores amp Biographies Volume 1 1744 1826 Lillywhite pp 389 393 House of Leveson Gower Archive is 2 August 2012 Archived from the original on 2 August 2012 Retrieved 25 November 2016 a href wiki Template Cite web title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Obituary Notes PDF The New York Times 23 September 1892 Retrieved 19 July 2019 Richards Eric 2013 The Leviathan of Wealth The Sutherland fortune in the industrial revolution Routledge p 12 ISBN 978 1 135 03185 5 Richards Eric 2013 The Leviathan of Wealth The Sutherland fortune in the industrial revolution Routledge p 292 ISBN 978 1 135 03185 5 External linksHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Sutherland Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byScrope Bernard Viscount Ebrington Member of Parliament for St Mawes 1812 With Viscount Ebrington 1808 1809 Scrope Bernard 1809 1812 Succeeded byWilliam Shipley Scrope Bernard Morland Preceded byJames Macdonald Edward Bootle Wilbraham Member of Parliament for Newcastle under Lyme 1812 With Sir John Boughey Bt Succeeded bySir John Chetwode Bt Sir John Boughey Bt Preceded byLord Granville Leveson Gower Edward Littleton Member of Parliament for Staffordshire 1820 With Edward Littleton Succeeded bySir John Boughey Bt Edward Littleton Honorary titles Preceded byThe Marquess of Stafford Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland 1830 1861 Succeeded byThe Duke of Sutherland Preceded byThe Earl of Powis Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire 1839 1845 Succeeded byThe Viscount Hill Peerage of the United Kingdom Preceded byGeorge Leveson Gower Duke of Sutherland 1833 1861 Succeeded byGeorge Sutherland Leveson Gower Peerage of Scotland Preceded byElizabeth Leveson Gower Earl of Sutherland 1839 1861 Succeeded byGeorge Sutherland Leveson Gower Peerage of England Preceded byGeorge Leveson Gower Baron Gower descended by acceleration 1826 1861 Succeeded byGeorge Sutherland Leveson Gower