Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton

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Charles Alfred Euston FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton (June 4, 1892 – November 11, 1970) was a soldier and farmer.

Charles was born at Euston Hall near Thetford, the eldest son of the Reverend Lord Charles Edward FitzRoy and of his wife Ismay FitzRoy, daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 3rd Baron Southampton. His paternal grandparents were Augustus FitzRoy, 7th Duke of Grafton and Anna Balfour.

Charles was educated at Wellington and then at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1911 he joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers who were stationed at Quetta in what is now Pakistan. In 1914 he went to France, and in 1917 he was appointed aide-de-camp and comptroller to Lord Buxton, Governor General of South Africa. He remained in South Africa until 1920.

In 1921 Charles retired from the army. He became a farmer at Coney Weston in Suffolk. From 1927 to 1936 he was land agent for Owen Hugh Smith at Langham in Rutland.

In 1936 Charles succeeded his cousin as duke of Grafton and inherited the family estate at Euston Hall.

Charles married, firstly, Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton (29 November 1897 – 28 July 1923), daughter of his commanding officer Lord Buxton on 24 January 1918. They had three children:

• Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton (born 3 April 1919)
• Lady Anne Mildred Ismay FitzRoy (born 7 August 1920), married Major Colin Mackenzie and had issue.
• Lord Charles Oliver Edward FitzRoy (1923–1944); killed in action; unmarried.

A year after his first wife's death, Charles married, secondly, Lucy Eleanor Barnes (25 December 1897 – 11 September 1943), daughter of Sir George Stapylton Barnes and of his wife Sybil de Gournay Buxton. The ceremony took place on 6 October 1924. Lucy was the first cousin of Charles' first wife Doreen. Charles and Lucy had two children:

• Lord Edward Anthony Charles FitzRoy (26 August 1928 – 25 November 2007), married Veronica Ruttledge and had issue.
• Lord Michael Charles FitzRoy (1932–1954); died in the Solomon Islands (missing, presumed drowned).

The year after his second wife's death, Charles married, thirdly, Rita Emily Carr-Ellison (24 October 1911 – 24 August 1970), daughter of John Ralph Carr-Ellison and of his wife Alice Ursula Lang. The ceremony took place on 18 July 1944.

Charles died at Bury St Edmunds.

[edit] Bibliography

• "Duke of Grafton, Soldier and Landowner", The Times (November 13, 1970): 12.
• "Duke of Grafton, An Outstanding Agriculturalist", The Times (November 19, 1970): 13.

Peerage of England
Preceded by John FitzRoy	Duke of Grafton 1936–1970	Succeeded by Hugh FitzRoy

v • d • e Dukes of Grafton House of Fitzroy (1675-) Henry I (1675-1690) • Charles I (1690-1757) • Augustus (1757-1811) • George (1811-1844) • Henry II (1844-1863) • William (1863-1882) • Augustus II (1882-1918) • Alfred (1918-1930) • John (1930-1936) • Charles II (1936-1970) • Hugh (1970-)