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Lot Essay
The crest is that of Fitzmaurice for Henry, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G. (1780-1863)
Sir Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, was the only son of the second marriage of William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (1737-1805) and his second wife Lady Louisa Fitzpatrick, daughter of John, Earl of Upper Ossory. He showed an early aptitude for public life, entering the House of Commons at the age of twenty-two, and was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer three years later. He succeeded his half-brother as Marquess of Lansdowne in 1809, and began a vigorous career in the House of Lords, eventually being named President of the Council. The Marquess devoted himself to the abolition of the slave trade, state assistance for education, and relief for the Irish in the time of famine.
The Marquess's London residence, Lansdowne House, became a centre of politics, letters and science. The Marquess was also a patron of art and literature, re-establishing the library and collection of pictures and marbles built up by his father but dissipated by his half-brother during his short period of possession.
In 1857, the Marquess declined the offer of a Dukedom, occasioning these lines to appear in Punch:
'Lord Lansdowne won't be Duke of Kerry,
Lord Lansdowne is a wise man very,
Punch drinks his health in port and sherry.'
He married, on 30 March 1808, Lady Louisa Emma Fox-Strangways, fifth daughter of Henry Thomas, second Earl of Ilchester. He died on 31 January 1863 and was buried at Bowood; a portrait of him by Lawrence is at the National Portrait Gallery, and his bust stands in Westminster Abbey.
Sir Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, was the only son of the second marriage of William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (1737-1805) and his second wife Lady Louisa Fitzpatrick, daughter of John, Earl of Upper Ossory. He showed an early aptitude for public life, entering the House of Commons at the age of twenty-two, and was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer three years later. He succeeded his half-brother as Marquess of Lansdowne in 1809, and began a vigorous career in the House of Lords, eventually being named President of the Council. The Marquess devoted himself to the abolition of the slave trade, state assistance for education, and relief for the Irish in the time of famine.
The Marquess's London residence, Lansdowne House, became a centre of politics, letters and science. The Marquess was also a patron of art and literature, re-establishing the library and collection of pictures and marbles built up by his father but dissipated by his half-brother during his short period of possession.
In 1857, the Marquess declined the offer of a Dukedom, occasioning these lines to appear in Punch:
'Lord Lansdowne won't be Duke of Kerry,
Lord Lansdowne is a wise man very,
Punch drinks his health in port and sherry.'
He married, on 30 March 1808, Lady Louisa Emma Fox-Strangways, fifth daughter of Henry Thomas, second Earl of Ilchester. He died on 31 January 1863 and was buried at Bowood; a portrait of him by Lawrence is at the National Portrait Gallery, and his bust stands in Westminster Abbey.