MARK OF WILLIAM STROUD, LONDON, 1806

CHARLES LENNOX, 4TH DUKE OF RICHMOND AND LENNOX
Born Charles Lennox in 1764, he was only son of Lt.-Gen George Lennox (d.1805), second son of the 2nd Duke. He entered the army in 1788 and achieved notoriety by his duel with the Duke of York on Wimbledon Common the next year. He served as a MP for Chichester. In 1806 he succeeded to the dukedom and the year following was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, a post he held, at great expense, until 1813. Forced to live abroad, the family took up residence in Brussels where his Duchess gave the famous ball on the eve of Waterloo. The Duchess was Charlotte, daughter of Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon. It was said that she loved pomp ‘even more than her husband did’. In 1818 the Duke was appointed Governor General of Canada but died in 1819 from a bite from his pet fox. He was buried in Quebec Cathedral on 4 September 1819. An interest in Chinese export silver is similarly show by the Earl of Ducie's bowls and stand, one by Paul Storr, 1810, the other Chinese, early 18th century, sold Christie's, London, 10 February 2022, lot 109.