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Lot Essay
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham (1753-1813), était le fils de George Grenville, Premier Ministre britannique de 1763 à 1765 et de son épouse Elizabeth (décédée en 1769), la fille de Sir William Wyndham, Ministre des finances. Il compte parmi ses frères, Thomas Grenville (décédé en 1846) Membre du Parlement et William, 1st Baron Grenville qui deviendra aussi Premier Ministre de 1806 à 1807.
Grenville est éduqué d'abord à Eton College puis à Christ Church College, Oxford. En 1774 il entreprend son Grand Tour en Italie et en Autriche accompagné de son ami d'université Thomas James, 7th Viscount Bulkeley (1752–1822). La même année il devient Membre du Parlement pour le Buckinghamshire, avant de rejoindre la Chambre des Lords en 1779, lorsqu'il succède à son oncle sous le nom de Earl Temple. Il prend en même temps par mandat royal les noms Nugent et Temple.
Grenville occupa plusieurs fonctions, comme celle de Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Membre du Privy Council et Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Il fait créer en 1783 par décret royal l'ordre de Saint-Patrick. En décembre 1784 il reçoit le titre de Marquess of Buckingham et est reconduit dans sa charge de Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; malheureusement ce second mandat ne se passe pas aussi bien et on reproche au marquis son train de vie dispendieux qui combiné à de mauvaises décisions politiques le rend très impopulaire, de sorte qu'en 1789 il démissionne. Néanmoins il sera reconnu comme un visionnaire politique et le premier défenseur de l'émancipation catholique.
Pour refléter sa fortune et son statut, le marquis choisit le grand architecte Sir John Soane pour lui construire Buckingham House sur Pall Mall à Londres qui rassemblait deux maisons. Il continua aussi les travaux de rénovation de Stowe House, leur domaine familial, commence par son oncle. Il se retira du monde de la politique et mourut à Stowe House en 1812.
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham (1753-1813), whose arms are engraved on this dish, was the son of George Grenville, British Prime Minister from 1763 until 1765 and his wife Elizabeth (d.1769), daughter of Sir William Wyndham, British Chancellor of the Exchequer. Among his siblings was Thomas Grenville (d.1846) who served as a British Member of Parliament and William, 1st Baron Grenville who went on to follow his father in becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1806 to 1807. Grenville was educated at Eton College and later matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxford. He went on the Grand Tour in 1774 with his university friend Thomas James, 7th Viscount Bulkeley (1752–1822) spending time in Italy and Austria. In the same year he continued the family tradition in politics by becoming a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire, moving to the House of Lords in 1779, when he succeeded his uncle as Earl Temple. At this time he was also to take on the further family names of Nugent and Temple, by Royal Warrant.
Grenville held various positions, including Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, member of the Privy Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. By Royal decree he created the chivalric Order of St. Patrick in 1783. In December of the following year, he was created Marquess of Buckingham and served for a second time as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, though it is generally accepted that his second posting was not as successful as the first, with the Marquess being accused of extravagance. This, along with other poor decisions, meant he became unpopular and by 1789 he had resigned from the office, however, it was said he had statesmanlike vision and indeed was one of the first to champion Catholic emancipation.
His wealth and status demanded great houses. Consequently the Marquess commissioned the renowned architect Sir John Soane to create Buckingham House on Pall Mall in London, combining two existing houses. He also continued the magnificent renovation of his seat, Stowe House, begun by his uncle. In later life he had little involvement in politics and died at Stowe House in 1812.