Carteret John Earl Granville

Carteret, John, Earl Granville (1690-1763), an English diplomatist, orator, and statesman. His father, Baron Carteret, died when the son was five years old, and the young Baron was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, married in 1710, and the next year entered the House of Lords, and put himself on the side of the Whigs. In 1714 he made his first speech in the House in support of the Protestant succession, and was appointed a lord of the bedchamber upon the accession of George I. In 1719 he was ambassador extraordinary to Sweden, and arranged two treaties of peace between Sweden and other countries; in 1721 he was appointed Foreign Secretary, and in 1724 he entered upon a six years' lord-lieutenancy of Ireland. This brought him into contact with Swift, first as an enemy over the celebrated Drapier's Letters, but afterwards as an acquaintance and close friend. From 1742 to 1744 he was again Foreign Secretary, and tried to bring about an agreement between Maria Theresa, the Emperor of Germany, and Frederick the Great. In 1744 he was out of power, and became Earl Granville on the death of his mother, who was Countess in her own right. In 1751 he again took office as President of the Council under Henry Pelham, but took no further prominent part in politics, though be held office till his death, beyond being instrumental in bringing Pitt into office.