Open Collections

[Bookplate for Earl Gower by Griffiths and Weigall]

1860

1 bookplate : burin engraving ; 6.9 x 9.8 cm

England

Prints

image/jpeg

Possibly belonging to George Granville Leveson-Gower (1786-1861), who was the second duke of Gower. However, this bookplate more likely belonged to his son, the third duke of Sutherland, George Granville William Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1828-1892), who was formally the Marquess of Stafford before his rise to dukedom. In 1849, he married Anne, the daughter of John Hay-Mackenzie of Cromartie and Newhall, and she was very close to Queen Victoria. In 1850, Gower had a son named George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, who was styled Earl Gower, but died at age 7. After Anne's death in 1888, the Duke re-married in 1883 to Mary Caroline, widow of Arthur Kindersley Blair. Family politics and controversy surrounded the family due to financial arrangements, and after Gower's death in 1892 where he left a large proportion of his wealth to Mary, a great scandal erupted because of the antagonism between Mary and the rest of the family. This was one of the "great scandals" of the Victorian age, and was finally settled in 1892, though the fortune of the family was greatly damaged. Educated at Eton and later at King's College, London University, Gower was very involved politically. He held the position of Liberal MP for the county of Sutherland for nine years from 1852-61, was lord lieutenant of Cormarty from 1852 until 1892, and even went on missions abroad to Russia-Stafford House was often visited by foreign figures. It is noted in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography that Gower was an enthusiastic traveller, having attended the opening of the Suez Canal (1869) and even travelled to India with the Prince of Wales in 1876.
References:
1) Eric Richards, "George Granville Leveson-Gower (1758-1833" in "Gower, George Granville Leveson-, first duke of Sutherland (1758-1833)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16539, accessed 25 Oct 2007]
2) "George Grancille Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Earl Gower." The Peerage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2007. http://www.thepeerage.com/p996.htm#i9952
3) Fincham, H.W. "The Artists & Engravers of British & American Bookplates." London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd, 1897.

RBSC Bookplates

2007

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