Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 44.djvu/434

Percy to take part in debate or vote ‘until he had been able to judge of the principles upon which this new coalition intend to govern the country.’ He refused to accept Fox's explanations, and ‘confessed he was totally mistaken in his character.’ But the Prince of Wales sent him a long letter, urging him to take a more amiable view of the situation, and a reconciliation with Fox followed. In June 1807 Northumberland was privately assured by the Portland ministry ‘that in the event of his grace having any disposition to confer with ministers upon public business, the Duke of Portland or the lord chancellor will certainly wait upon him to discuss every measure of importance previous to its adoption.’ Shortly afterwards he was offered the command of the blues and a peerage for his eldest son. But in February 1812 Thomas Grenville informed the Marquis of Buckingham: ‘I suppose we must now reckon Northumberland decidedly adverse to us, because, though he was magnificent enough to refuse the bedchamber for his son, he was shabby enough to ask it for his son-in-law’ (Court and Cabinets of the Regency, p. 240).

Northumberland was an admirable landlord. He gave large entertainments at Alnwick twice a week, tradesmen and dissenting ministers being sometimes invited. When prices fell after the peace he reduced his rents twenty-five per cent.; and the tenantry, to show their gratitude, erected a memorial column in 1816. But when some gave up their farms in expectation of a further reduction, they were forbidden to compete for them again; this prohibition remained in force till the time of the fourth duke.

Northumberland was elected F.S.A. in May 1787, and F.R.S. on 6 March 1788. When Earl Percy, he presented to the king a petition, with twenty thousand signatures, in favour of Dr. Dodd, on which Dr. Johnson wrote ‘Observations.’ Boswell met him at dinner at Paoli's house on 22 April 1778, and Johnson wrote a letter designed to interest him in Bishop Percy, editor of the ‘Reliques.’ Frequent and excessive gout made him irritable, and he seems to have had his full share of family pride. He died rather suddenly on 10 July 1817, and was buried in the family vault in Westminster Abbey. Walpole says that he was ‘totally devoid of ostentation, most simple and retiring in his habits.’

The duke was twice married: first, on 2 July 1764, to Lady Anne Stuart, daughter of Lord Bute, from whom he was divorced in 1779; and, secondly, on 25 May 1779, to Frances Julia (d. 1820), third daughter of Peter Burrell, esq., of Beckenham, Kent. By the latter, whose sister his younger brother Algernon had previously married, he had three daughters and two sons, all of whom were buried in Westminster Abbey (, Register, pp. 493, &c.) The eldest son, Hugh Percy, third duke, and Algernon Percy, fourth duke, are separately noticed. Two portraits by Stuart were engraved by Turner and Scriven. Finlayson both drew and engraved a portrait of him as Lord Warkworth, and engraved one by Hamilton of him as duke. A whole length of Northumberland, sitting in his robes, was painted by Phillips and engraved by Ransom (, Cat. Engr. Portraits).

[Doyle's Baronage, with portrait after Battoni, 1765; Fonblanque's Annals of the House of Percy, ch. xvi., containing many extracts from the Alnwick MSS.; Tate's Hist. of Alnwick, i. 360–3; Walpole's Memoirs of George III, i. 420, Last Journals (Doran); i. 422, ii. 120, 306 n., and Letters (1891), vi. 218, 445–6 n.; Grenville Papers, ii. 149, 168, 385, 516, iii. 384; Jesse's Memoirs of George III, ii. 88, 95–6; Rose's Diary and Corresp. i. 51–61; Boswell's Johnson, ed. Hill, iii. 142–3, 276–277; Bancroft's Hist. United States; Ann. Reg. 1817, pp. 145–6; Europ. Mag. p. 84; Official Returns Memb. Parl.; authorities cited.] 

PERCY, HUGH, third of the third creation (1785–1847), eldest son of Hugh Percy, second duke [q. v.], by his second wife, was born on 20 April 1785. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, and was created M.A. in 1805, and LL.D. in 1809. On 1 Aug. 1806 he was elected member of parliament for Buckingham in the tory interest, and on 7 Oct. was returned for Westminster. In May 1807 he successfully contested the county of Northumberland, and was also returned for Launceston. On 17 March he brought forward a bill for the abolition of slavery in the colonies, but the house was counted out. On 12 March 1812 he was summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Percy, and on 10 July 1817 succeeded his father as Duke of Northumberland. On 25 Nov. 1819 he received the Garter, and at the coronation of George IV, in July 1821, he was the bearer of the second sword.

Northumberland went to Paris on 8 Feb. 1825 as ambassador-extraordinary to represent the British crown at the coronation of Charles X. He himself bore the whole cost of the mission, which was conducted with exceptional magnificence, and on his return was presented with a diamond-hilted sword as a national recognition of his services. On