George Boscawen, 3rd Viscount Falmouth

George Boscawen, 3rd Viscount Falmouth

George Boscawen in 1784 by George Romney
Born 6 May 1758
Admiralty House, Westminster
Died 11 May 1808
Penkevel, Cornwall
Allegiance

Kingdom of England

Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch Army
Rank Colonel
Unit Royal Horse Guards

George Boscawen, 3rd Viscount Falmouth,[1] PC (6 May 1758 11 February 1808), was a British army officer and statesman of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His career included service as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms during the reign of George III.

Life and career

Boscawen was the third and youngest, but only surviving son of Admiral Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) by his marriage to Frances Glanville (1719–1805). In 1774 he joined in the British Army as a cornet before being promoted to colonel in 1795. Whilst serving as an officer he succeeded his uncle as Viscount Falmouth in 1782 and took his place in the House of Lords. From 1789–1790 he was the chief justice in the Eyre North of Trent, and in 1790 he was elevated to the position of captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms serving from 1790–1806 and 1807 until his death in 1808. Upon his appointment as captain of the Corps he was also made a privy councillor.

Family

On 29 June 1784, Falmouth married Elizabeth Anne Crew by special licence, as she was a minor at the time. They had three children:

Falmouth's wife died on 10 August 1793, and upon his own death in 1808, his estate and titles passed to his eldest son.

In fiction

He is a recurring character in the Poldark novels by Winston Graham, where he is presented as the dominant political figure in Cornwall in his time, due to his unashamed use of patronage and his influence over Parliamentary elections; he appears personally a somewhat distant and arrogant man, but capable of kindness and friendship.

Ancestry

References

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl of Leicester
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
17901808
Succeeded by
The Lord St John of Bletso
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by
Hugh Boscawen
Viscount Falmouth
17821808
Succeeded by
Edward Boscawen