Author: Lyttelton, George
Biography:
LYTTELTON, George (1709-73: ODNB)
Politician and writer. His posthumous Works, edited by his nephew, claim to include previously unpublished material but it is not clear if any of the poetry is in that category. Otherwise, his poetry was published pre-1770. He was the son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton of Hagley Hall, Worcestershire, and his wife Christian, the daughter of Sir Richard Temple. He was born very prematurely and baptised on the same day at St. James’s, Westminster; he remained frail-looking and thin all his life. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1726 although he did not take a degree. From about 1733 he was active in politics and was part of an influential group that included his cousins, Thomas and William Pitt. He was also a prominent supporter of Frederick, Prince of Wales. In 1742 he married Lucy Fortescue; they had three children, including Thomas Lyttelton (q.v.). Lucy died giving birth to a daughter in 1747. Two years later Lyttelton married Elizabeth Rich but the marriage was unhappy and they formally separated in 1759 amidst scandal about her affairs. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1751 and embarked on an ambitious programme of rebuilding and landscaping Hagley Hall. Although he continued active in politics after his accession to the House of Lords in 1756, his principal significance now is as a loyal, generous, and discriminating supporter of other writers including James Thomson (q.v.), Elizabeth Montagu, and Henry Fielding. He died at Hagley Hall, possibly of hepatitis, and was buried in the parish church. (ODNB 7 June 2021) SR
Other Names:
- George, Lord Lyttelton
- Lord Lyttelton
- Lord Lyttleton