Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 23.djvu/171

Greville  Grosart's Memorial Introduction to his edition of Greville's Works; Lamb's Dramatic Poets (extracts from Mustapha and Alaham); Langbaine's Dramatic Poets; Phillips's Theatrum Poet.; Hazlitt's Table Talk.]  GREVILLE, HENRY WILLIAM (1801–1872), diarist, youngest son of Charles Greville, grandson of the fifth Lord Warwick, by Lady Charlotte Cavendish Bentinck, eldest daughter of William Henry, third duke of Portland, born on 28 Oct. 1801, was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. 4 June 1823. Much of his boyhood was spent on the continent, chiefly at Brussels, where his family resided. He thus learned to speak French and Italian with fluency. He was taken by the Duke of Wellington to the celebrated ball given by the Duchess of Richmond at Brussels on the night before the battle of Waterloo. He became private secretary to Lord Francis Egerton [q. v.], afterwards earl of Ellesmere, when chief secretary for Ireland. From 1834 to 1844 he was attaché to the British embassy in Paris. He afterwards held the post of gentleman usher at court. He was fond of society, of music, and the drama. Miss Fanny (Frances Anne) Kemble knew him well, and describes his fine voice and handsome appearance in her 'Records of a Girlhood,' iii. 173. He died on 12 Dec. 1872 at his house in Mayfair. Like his brother, Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville [q. v.], he kept during many years of his life a diary of such events, public and private, as specially interested him, a portion of which has been edited by his niece, Viscountess Enfield, under the title, 'Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville,' 1883-4, 2 vols. 8vo. The `Diary' derives its chief importance as an historical authority from the author's position at Paris between 1834 and 1844; otherwise, though agreeably written, it is of no special interest or value.

[Memoir by Viscountess Enfield prefixed to vol. ii. of the Diary; Cat. Grad. Oxf.]  GREVILLE, ROBERT, second (1608–1643), parliamentary general, only son of Fulke Greville, by Mary, daughter of Christopher Copley of Wadworth, Yorkshire, relict of Ralph Bosville of Gunthwaite in the same county, was born in 1608. When about four years of age he was adopted by his cousin, Fulke Greville, first lord Brooke [q. v.] by whom he was educated, partly in England and partly abroad. He was returned to parliament for the borough of Warwick in 1627-8, but vacated his seat on 30 Jan. 1628-9, having then attained his majority, and succeeded his cousin in the barony of Brooke of Beauchamp Court, Warwickshire. He was a member of the company of adventurers for the plantation of Providence and Henrietta Islands, incorporated by letters patent on 4 Dec. 1630, in the management of which he took an active part. About this period he formed with Lord Saye and Sele [see Fiennes, William (DNB00)] the design of emigrating to New England. The settlement of Sayebrook in Connecticut was founded in 1635 by John Winthrop under a commission from the two lords (, Annals of America, i. 229;, Baronage, ii. 442; Cal. State Papers. Colonial, 1574-1660, pp. 122-3).

Greville was summoned to attend the king on his Scottish expedition in 1639. He denied the obligation, but went as far as York, and there in April was imprisoned for refusing to subscribe the protestations of fidelity which Charles then imposed upon all his principal officers. After giving unsatisfactory answers to some interrogatories he was set at large and dismissed from attendance. In May 1640 his house was entered by order of the king, his papers seized, and his person arrested. He was, however, soon released, and in August was one of the signatories of a petition presented to the king at York praying that 'the war might be composed without blood,' and in the following month was nominated one of the commissioners on the part of the king to negotiate with the Scots the Treaty of Ripon (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1638-9 pp. 506, 516, 518, 1639 pp. 67, 103, 105, 119, 1640 p. 153;, Rebellion, i. 207, 274; Notes of the Treaty of Ripon, 1640, Camd. Soc. 2).

He supported the impeachment of Laud and Stratford, and is distinguished by Clarendon as in 1641 the only positive enemy to the whole fabric of the church and state besides Lord Saye and Sele in the House of Lords. On 4 June 1642 he and the Earl of Warwick were ordered to search all ships suspected to be conveying supplies to the rebels in Ireland (, Rebellion, i. 321, 409, 509; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1641-3, p. 334). As lord-lieutenant of militia for the counties of Warwick and Stafford he in July garrisoned Warwick Castle, and mustered the train bands and volunteers at Stratford-upon-Avon for the parliament. While bringing ammunition of war from London to Warwick he was met by the Earl of Northampton with a considerable force near Edgehill. Greville agreed to leave his artillery at Banbury till he obtained instructions from the parliament, and to give the earl three days'