George Edgcumbe (23 June 1800 – 18 February 1882) was a British diplomat and politician.

Biography

He was the youngest son of

Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and ...

. He was educated at

Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (school founder), John Lyon, a local landowner an ...

, and at

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...

. In 1834, he married Fanny Lucy, daughter of

Sir John Shelley, 6th Baronet Sir John Shelley, 6th Baronet (18 December 1771 – 28 March 1852) was an English landowner, Member of Parliament and amateur cricketer. Career He was the son of Sir John Shelley, 5th Baronet by Wilhelmina, the daughter of John Newnham of Mare ...

; they had 6 children. At the general election in June 1826 he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the

rotten borough A rotten or pocket borough, also known as a nomination borough or proprietorial borough, was a parliamentary borough or Electoral district, constituency in Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain, or the United Kin ...

of Plympton Erle, on his father's interest. However, he resigned his seat in December that year, by taking the sinecure of

Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds Appointment to the position of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds (or the Three Hundreds of Chiltern) is a procedural device to allow members of Parliament (MPs) to resign from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Since ...

. He then became a diplomat, serving in Switzerland, Tuscany, and Hanover.

References

1800 births 1882 deaths Younger sons of earls People educated at Harrow School Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Plympton Erle UK MPs 1826–1830 {{UK-diplomat-stub