EDGCUMBE, Hon. George (1800-1882), of Mount Edgcumbe, Cornw.

Edgcumbe was returned for Plympton Erle in 1826 on his father’s interest, presumably in the absence of a paying guest. His father observed that ‘George is extremely surprised and flattered with the honour, but I fear his diplomatic duties (to say nothing of his military) will interfere greatly with his parliamentary’. Carew Pole mss, Mount Edgcumbe to Pole Carew, 21 June 1826. He took no recorded part in the House’s proceedings before vacating on 2 Dec. 1826, and he subsequently pursued his diplomatic career. Lady Granville described him as ‘very inoffensive ... not handsome ... not clever ... not useful, but there is nothing below mediocre, and he is very obliging and good-natured’; even his mother-in-law considered him to be an ‘excellent creature’. Countess Granville Letters, i. 301; Shelley Diary, ii. 254. On his father’s death in 1839 he received £1,000 in addition to the £10,000 already settled on him at the time of his marriage. The personalty was sworn under £30,000 (PROB 8/233; 11/1935/713). He died in February 1882; his eldest son, Richard Edgcumbe (1843-1937), was serjeant-at-arms, 1880-1921.