His Grace
The Duke of Norfolk
Painting by Thomas Gainsborough.
Earl Marshal
In office
31 August 1786 – 16 December 1815
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byThe 10th Duke of Norfolk
Succeeded byThe 12th Duke of Norfolk
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
31 August 1786 – 16 December 1815
Hereditary Peerage
Preceded byThe 10th Duke of Norfolk
Succeeded byThe 12th Duke of Norfolk
Member of Parliament
In office
1780–1784
Personal details
Born(1746-03-15)15 March 1746
Died16 December 1815 (1815-12-17) (aged 69)
Spouse(s)Marion Coppinger
Frances Scudamore
Parents
A portrait of Howard in later life
by James Lonsdale from the collection of the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery

Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk (15 March 1746 – 16 December 1815), styled Earl of Surrey from 1777 to 1786, was a British nobleman, peer, and politician. He was the son of Charles Howard, 10th Duke of Norfolk, and Catherine Brockholes. Howard was known for actively participating in the Tory party as part of the support for King George III. He also spent a considerable amount of his money rebuilding and refurbishing Arundel Castle after inheriting his title and lands.

Family

He married, firstly, Marion Coppinger (daughter of John Coppinger), on 1 August 1767, who died a year later giving birth. He married, secondly, Frances Scudamore (1750–1820), the only child of Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore and his wife Frances, formerly Duchess of Beaufort, on 6 April 1771 at London, England. Frances soon became insane after her marriage and was locked away until her death in 1820. Howard then lived with several mistresses. His longtime mistress, Mary Ann Gibbon (a cousin of Edward Gibbon), was reputed to be his secret third wife and she had five children by him, including two sons who were officers of arms, Matthew Howard-Gibbon, and Edward Howard-Gibbon. An older illegitimate son by a previous mistress, Sir William Woods, later became Garter King of Arms.

Politics and letters

Norfolk renounced his Catholicism to start his political life, but remained a staunch supporter of Catholic Emancipation, as well as opposing the war with the American colonies.[1] He sat in Parliament from 1780 to 1784 and became a lord of the treasury in the Portland cabinet in 1783. He succeeded to the title of 11th Duke of Norfolk in 1786 upon the death of his father. Eventually, he was dismissed from the lord lieutenancy of the West Riding in 1798 for toasting “Our sovereign’s health—the majesty of the people” in terms displeasing to George III.[2] He was noted for his convivial habits and his dislike of soap and water. [3]

Norfolk wrote Historical Anecdotes of some of the Howard Family (1769 and 1817).[2] He was a good friend of Sir Bysshe Shelley, allowing him in 1786 to make out the patent for his baronetcy.[1] Shelley was influenced by Norfolk and built the flamboyant Castle Goring, one side of which was a partial copy of Norfolk's residence of Arundel Castle.[1]

Norfolk died on 16 December 1815 at age 69, without issue from either of his two legal marriages. Upon his death, his lands and titles passed to his cousin, Bernard.

He was noted for his enjoyment of the good things in life, especially food and drink, and for his aversion to washing. It was said that his servants would wait for him to fall asleep and then douse him with water. In his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, Thomas De Quincey refers to him as saying, "Next Monday, wind and weather permitting, I purpose to be drunk."

Family tree

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Bieri, James; James Bieri, S. (2004). Percy Bysshe Shelley. University of Delaware Press. ISBN 9780874138702.
  2. ^ a b Chisholm 1911, p. 744.
  3. ^ Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Norfolk, Charles Howard, 11th Duke of" . Encyclopedia Americana.

References

External links

Media related to Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk at Wikimedia Commons

Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byAnthony StorerWalter Spencer-Stanhope Member of Parliament for Carlisle 1780–1786 With: William Lowther 1780–1784Edward Norton 1784–1786John Lowther 1786John Christian 1786 Succeeded byJohn ChristianEdward Knubley Preceded byThomas FitzherbertPeter William Baker Member of Parliament for Arundel 1784–1784 With: Thomas Fitzherbert Succeeded byThomas FitzherbertRichard Beckford Political offices Preceded byThe Earl of Effingham Deputy Earl Marshal 1782–1786 Vacant Preceded byThe Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal 1786–1815 Succeeded byThe Duke of Norfolk Honorary titles Preceded byThe Marquess of Rockingham Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire 1782–1798 Succeeded byThe Earl FitzWilliam Preceded byThe Duke of Richmond Lord Lieutenant of Sussex 1807–1815 Succeeded byThe Duke of Richmond Peerage of England Preceded byCharles Howard Duke of Norfolk 1786–1815 Succeeded byBernard Howard
Dukes of Norfolk (family tree)
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