George FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Northumberland

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Lieutenant-General George FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG, PC (Oxford, December 28, 1665 – June 28, 1716, Epsom) was the third and youngest illegitimate son of King Charles II and his mother Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine (also known as Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland). On October 1, 1674, he was created Earl of Northumberland, Baron of Pontefract (Yorkshire) and Viscount Falmouth (Cornwall). On April 6, 1683, he was created Duke of Northumberland.

The first Duke of Northumberland was born at Merton College, Oxford. In 1682, he was employed on secret service in Venice. Upon his return to England in 1684, he was elected (January 10) and installed (April 8) Knight of the Garter. That summer, he served as a volunteer on the side of the French at the Siege of Luxembourg. In 1687, Northumberland commanded the 2nd Troop of Horse Guards. A year later, he was appointed a lord of His Majesty's bedchamber. In 1701, he was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle and Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. In 1712, he became Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire as well. In 1703, he succeeded the Earl of Oxford as Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Horse. Seven years later, on January 10, 1710, he became Lieutenant-General. On April 7, 1713, he was sworn into the Privy Council and as Chief Butler of England.

In March 1686, Northumberland married Catherine Wheatley, the daughter of poulterer, Robert Wheatley of Bracknell in Berkshire. Catherine was the widow of Thomas Lucy of Charlecote Park, a captain in the Royal Horse Guards. Soon after the marriage, Northumberland and his brother, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, allegedly attempted to privately convey her abroad to an English convent in Ghent, Belgium. After the death of Catherine in 1714, Northumberland remarried to Mary Dutton, the sister of Captain Mark Dutton.

The Duke lived at Frogmore House at Windsor in Berkshire, but died suddenly at Epsom on June 28, 1716. He had no legitimate offspring. Mary died at Frogmore House in 1738.

[edit] Ancestry

v • d • e Ancestors of George FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Northumberland

16. Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley               8. James I of England                       17. Mary I of Scotland               4. Charles I of England                             18. Frederick II of Denmark               9. Anne of Denmark                       19. Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               2. Charles II of England                                   20. Antoine of Navarre               10. Henry IV of France                       21. Jeanne III of Navarre               5. Henrietta Maria of France                             22. Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany               11. Marie de' Medici                       23. Johanna of Austria               1. George FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Northumberland                                         24. George Villiers               12. Edward Villiers                       25. Audrey Saunders               6. William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison                             26. John St. John               13. Barbara St. John                       27. Lucy Hungerford               3. Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland                                   28. Paul Bayning               14. Paul Bayning, 1st Viscount Bayning                       29. Susanna Norden               7. Mary Bayning                             30. Henry Glemham               15. Anne Glemham                       31. Anne Sackville

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Philip Howard	Colonel of the 2nd Troop of Horse Guards 1685–1689	Succeeded by The Earl of Ossory
Preceded by The Earl of Oxford	Colonel of the Royal Horse Guards 1703–1712	Succeeded by Viscount Colchester
Preceded by The Duke of Ormonde	Colonel of the 2nd Troop of Horse Guards 1712–1715	Succeeded by Earl of Hertford
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Duke of Norfolk	Constable of Windsor Castle 1702–1716	Succeeded by The Lord Cobham
	Lord Lieutenant of Surrey 1702–1714	Succeeded by The Earl of Halifax
Preceded by The Lord Craven	Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire 1712–1714	Succeeded by The Duke of St Albans
Peerage of England
New title	Duke of Northumberland 1683–1716	Extinct
	Earl of Northumberland 1674–1716