George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis

George Edward Henry Arthur Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis (7 July 1755 – 16 January 1801), styled Viscount Ludlow until 1772, was a British peer.

Early life

Herbert was born at Finchley, Middlesex, the son of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis, by Barbara Herbert, daughter of Lord Edward Herbert. He was educated at Eton College.

Career

He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1772 and was appointed Recorder of Ludlow and Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire in 1776. Also in 1776 he served as treasurer of the Salop Infirmary in Shrewsbury. Powis was commissioned as Colonel to embody the Montgomeryshire Militia in 1778. In 1798 he was also made Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire; he was also appointed colonel of the Shropshire Militia in place of the Montgomeryshire. He retained both Lord-Lieutenancies until his death in 1801.

Lord Powis made a Grand Tour in Italy in 1775–76, when he probably acquired a collection of marble sculpture preserved at his family seat, Powis Castle. He added a ballroom but did little to maintain the house, visitor John Byng in 1784 ascribing its neglected state to his time spent "in the prodigalities of London and in driving high phaetons up St James's Street." At a later visit (1793) he wrote: "The present (grandly-descended peer) is a mean silly man, the bubble of his mistress (and of his steward consequently) who rarely comes here, to sneak for about a day or two."

Personal life

Lord Powis died at the York House Hotel, Albemarle Street, London in January 1801, aged 45, and was buried at St Mary's Church, Welshpool. He was unmarried and the titles died with him. His sister and heir, Lady Henrietta, married Edward Clive, 2nd Baron Clive, who was created Earl of Powis in 1804.

References

1. Edward Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis
2. Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis
3. Earl of Powis
4. Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis
5. George Herbert, 7th Earl of Powis
6. Powis Castle
7. William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis
8. Herbert family
9. William Herbert, 2nd Marquess of Powis
10. Barbara Herbert, Countess of Powis
11. Edward Herbert, 5th Earl of Powis
12. Henrietta Clive, Countess of Powis
13. William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (died 1469)
14. Edward Herbert, 3rd Earl of Powis
15. George Herbert (priest)
16. Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire
17. Christian Herbert, 6th Earl of Powis
18. William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis
19. Lady Henrietta Waldegrave
20. Lucy Herbert, Countess of Powis