Charles Grey (British army officer)

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Sir Charles Grey (March 15, 1804March 31, 1870) was a British army officer, member of the British House of Commons and political figure in Lower Canada. In later life, he served as private secretary to Prince Albert and later Queen Victoria.

He was born in Northumberland, England in 1804, the son of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. Grey 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, apparently defeating Disraeli to win the seat [1]. In 1836, he married Caroline Eliza, daughter of Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar. He came to Canada with his brother-in-law, John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, in 1838. Grey was named a member of the Executive Council and Special Council of Lower Canada in June of that year and served until November 2. He returned to England with Lambton later in November. He was promoted to general in 1865. Grey served as secretary to Prince Albert from 1849 to 1861 and as secretary to the Queen from 1861 until his death in 1870.

His brother Henry was the 3rd Earl Grey. His son Albert was the 4th Earl Grey and served as a Governor-General of Canada.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Baring, Bt
Robert John Smith
Member of Parliament for Wycombe
with Robert John Smith

1832–1837
Succeeded by
Robert John Smith
Sir George Dashwood, Bt
Court offices
Preceded by
Sir Charles Phipps
Keeper of the Privy Purse
1866–1867
Succeeded by
Sir Thomas Myddleton-Biddulph
Preceded by
HRH Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
(unofficial)
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
1861–1870
Succeeded by
Sir Henry Ponsonby
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