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Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton

Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735 - 1811), was a British politician of the Georgian era.

The grandson of the 2nd Duke, he was educated at Westminster School and at the University of Cambridge. He first became known in politics as an opponent of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, a favourite of King George III. In 1765, Grafton was secretary of state under the Marquess of Rockingham; but he retired next year, and the Earl of Chatham formed a ministry in which Grafton was First Lord of the Treasury (1766) but not Prime Minister.

Chatham's illness at the end of 1767 resulted in Grafton becoming the government's effective leader, but political differences and the attacks of "Junius" led to his resignation in January 1770. He became Lord Privy Seal in Lord North's ministry (1771) but resigned in 1775, being in favour of conciliatory action towards the American colonists. In the Rockingham ministry of 1782 he was again lord privy seal. In later years he was a prominent Unitarian.

Besides his successor, the 4th Duke (1760–1844), and numerous other children, Grafton was the father of General Lord Charles Fitzroy (1764–1829), whose sons Sir Charles Fitzroy (1798–1858), governor of New South Wales, and Robert Fitzroy, the hydrographer, were notable for their achievements.

Grafton County, New Hampshire in the United States is named in his honour.

The Duke of Grafton's Government

• Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, and Leader of the House of Lords: The Duke of Grafton
• Lord Chancellor: Lord Camden
• Lord President of the Council: Lord Gower
• Lord Privy Seal: Lord Bristol
• Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons: Lord North
• Secretary of State for the Northern Department: Henry Seymour Conway (1766–1768), Lord Weymouth (1768), The Earl of Rochford (1768–1770)
• Secretary of State for the Southern Department: The Earl of Shelburne (1766–1768), Lord Weymouth (1768–1770)
• Secretary of State for the Colonies: Lord Hillsborough
• Master-General of the Ordnance: Lord Granby
• First Lord of the Admiralty: Sir Edward Hawke

Preceded by: The Earl of Sandwich	Secretary of State for the Northern Department 1765–1766	Followed by: Henry Seymour Conway
Preceded by: The Marquess of Rockingham	First Lord of the Treasury 1766–1770	Followed by: Lord North
Preceded by: The Earl of Chatham	Prime Minister of Great Britain 1768–1770	Followed by: Lord North
Preceded by: The Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire	Lord Privy Seal 1771–1775	Followed by: The Earl of Dartmouth
Preceded by: The Earl of Dartmouth	Lord Privy Seal 1782–1783	Followed by: The Earl of Carlisle

Preceded by: Charles Fitzroy

Duke of Grafton

Followed by: George Henry Fitzroy

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.