L30/11/342/9

Letter from Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke to Mr Pitt, sent from New Cavendish Street. [Typed transcript available.]

23 Feb 1799

From: 1799 To: 1799

Requests Pitt’s opinion and assistance regarding His Majesty’s intention of conferring the title of Duke of Kent on Prince Ernest, which is rather unpleasing to Lady Lucas and Lady Grantham, as Duke of Kent has been a private title for nearly 300 years. The estates of the late Duke of Kent will ultimately devolve upon Lord Grantham, and it is not unnatural therefore that a title, which after enjoyed as an earldom for many generations in the family and at last raised to a dukedom, should be an object of interest and even of some anxiety. [Reference to Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent, who died 1740] Note: On 23 April 1799, George III created Prince Ernest Augustus Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale and Earl of Armagh; he was later King of Hanover.

item

Hardwicke, Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of,
Yorke, Philip (3rd Earl of Hardwicke),
Pitt,
Kent, Duke of,
Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover,
Cumberland, Ernest Augustus, Duke of

family correspondence, New Cavendish Street