Grafton, Duke of (1735-1811), Augustus Henry Fitzroy, served as prime minister of Great Britain (now also called the United Kingdom) from October 1768 to January 1770. He succeeded William Pitt the Elder, a close associate. Grafton believed that duties imposed upon the American colonies were unwise and should be removed—except for the tea tax. He felt the responsibilities of government to be a great burden. His resignation as prime minister followed several scandals about his private life. Grafton was offered office in several later governments. However, he preferred the life of a country gentleman on his estates in Suffolk, England.
Grafton was born Augustus Henry Fitzroy on Sept. 28, 1735, in London. He was the second of three sons born to Captain Lord Augustus Fitzroy and Elizabeth Cosby. Young Augustus was educated at Westminster School and Peterhouse, Cambridge. Fitzroy entered Parliament in 1756 as representative for Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in the House of Commons. That same year, he married Anne Liddell, with whom he had three children. The couple had a troubled marriage and eventually divorced in 1769. Fitzroy then married Elizabeth Wrottesley and had 13 more children.
In 1757, Fitzroy succeeded to the title of 3rd Duke of Grafton and took his seat in the House of Lords. He served in several Cabinet posts before becoming prime minister. Grafton died on March 14, 1811, in Euston Hall, Suffolk.
