Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland

Who was Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland?

Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland KG, PC was a British politician and nobleman, the eldest legitimate son of John Manners, Marquess of Granby. He was styled Lord Roos from 1760 until 1770, and Marquess of Granby from 1770 until 1779.

He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating the latter with a nobleman's MA in 1774. That year, he was elected to one of the university's seats in the House of Commons. He continued to maintain the family's substantial electoral interests, and to collect objets d'art to decorate Belvoir Castle. He pledged to redeem his father's substantial debts, but was hampered by his passion for gambling.

On 26 December 1775, he married Lady Mary Isabella Somerset, daughter of Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort and a celebrated beauty. They had six children:

Lady Elizabeth Isabella Manners, married on 21 August 1798 Richard Norman

John Henry Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland

Lady Katherine Mary Manners, married on 16 June 1800 Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester

General Lord Charles Henry Somerset Manners, died unmarried