| Collection | Papers of Major Richard Grenville |
| Admin History | Richard Grenville was born on 6 July 1742, the son of James Grenville and twin brother of the 1st Baron of Glastonbury. Grenville was educated at Eton, and entered the army in 1759.
He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a captain of an independent company in 1760 and of the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1761, an aide-de-camp to the Marquess of Granby in campaigns in Germany in 1761 and 1762, Colonel in 1779, Major-General in 1782, Colonel of the 23rd Regiment in 1786, Lieutenant-General in 1796, Commandant of the Garrison at Plymouth in 1798, and finally General in 1801. Grenville also had a political career, which reportedly suffered due to his prioritisation of his military ambition. Grenville acted as Member of Parliament for Buckingham, but did not stand in 1780.
Grenville was an important member of the Royal Household, serving as a guardian to Prince Frederick Augustus from 1781 to 1787, and later as Comptroller and Master of the Household to the Duke of York from 1788 to 1823, the year of Grenville's death. |