The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Eleanor Creevey, 4 June 1812
“York St., Thursday, 4th.
“Betty and I are
just put into port for the purpose of my writing you a single line before the
post goes. We have had a very prosperous voyage to Mrs. Fitzherbert’s and old Lady
Grey’s, both of whom we found at home. We have seen in the
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| 164 | THE CREEVEY PAPERS | [Ch. VIII. |
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streets various persons—Albemarle, Lord Henry
Fitzroy, Parnell,* &c.,
&c. Well, Prinney is in a capital way,
is he not? There was a meeting last night at Grenville’s of opposition lords to hear the history of
all that has passed on the late occasion, and there was another similar one of
the Commons to-day at Ponsonby’s.
. . . Wellesley, we are told, was as good
as turned out of Carlton House when he went back with Grey’s refusal on Tuesday, and this accounts for the
‘violent personal objections’ which he describes
Prinney as having to Grey and
others. It is a rare mess, by God! . . .”
Maria Anne Fitzherbert [née Smythe] (1756-1837)
The consort of the Prince of Wales whom she married in 1785 as her third husband; the
marriage was regarded as illegitimate since she was a Catholic.
Henry Fitzroy, fifth duke of Grafton (1790-1863)
Son of the fourth duke (d. 1844) and Byron's schoolmate at Harrow; he was Whig MP for
Bury St. Edmunds (1826-1831) and for Thetford (1834-1842).
William Wyndham Grenville, baron Grenville (1759-1834)
Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, he was a moderate Whig MP, foreign secretary
(1791-1801), and leader and first lord of the treasury in the “All the Talents” ministry
(1806-1807). He was chancellor of Oxford University (1810).
Charles Grey, second earl Grey (1764-1845)
Whig statesman and lover of the Duchess of Devonshire; the second son of the first earl
(d. 1807), he was prime minister (1831-34).
Elizabeth Ord (1789-1854 c.)
Of Rivenhall in Essex, the daughter of William Ord of Fenham and younger sister of
William Ord MP (1781-1855); she was the step-daughter and correspondent of Thomas Creevy.
Her will was made and proved in 1854.
Henry Brooke Parnell, first Baron Congleton (1776-1842)
The son of Sir John Parnell, second baronet; he was Whig MP for Queen's County (1802,
1806-32), Portarlington (1802), Dundee (1832-41); he held high government offices and wrote
on economics.
George Ponsonby (1755-1817)
The son of John Ponsonby (d. 1787); he was speaker of the Irish House of Commons, lord
chancellor of Ireland in the Fox-Grenville ministry (1806) and succeeded Lord Grey as
leader of the Whigs in the British House of Commons.
Richard Wellesley, first marquess Wellesley (1760-1842)
The son of Garret Wesley (1735-1781) and elder brother of the Duke of Wellington; he was
Whig MP, Governor-general of Bengal (1797-1805), Foreign Secretary (1809-12), and
Lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1821-28); he was created Marquess Wellesley in 1799.
