Charles Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland

For other people named Charles Manners, see Charles Manners (disambiguation).

Caricature by Coïdé published in Vanity Fair in 1871.

Charles Cecil John Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland KG (16 May 1815 – 3 March 1888, in Belvoir Castle), styled Marquess of Granby before 1857, was an English Conservative politician.

Background and education

Manners was the third but eldest surviving son of John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland and Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle. John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland and Lord George Manners were his younger brothers.He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, earning an MA in 1835.

Political career

Entering politics as Member of Parliament for Stamford in 1837, Manners became known as a voluble, if not particularly talented, protectionist. He briefly held office as a Lord of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert from 1843 to 1846. Following the resignation of Lord George Bentinck from the leadership of the protectionists in the House of Commons at the beginning of 1848, Granby (as he was then known) became leader on 10 February 1848, as Benjamin Disraeli was unacceptable to Lord Derby, the overall leader of the party, and the majority of the rank and file. Granby resigned on 4 March 1848, feeling himself inadequate to the post, and the party functioned without an actual leader in the Commons for the remainder of the parliamentary session.

At the start of the next session, affairs were handled by the triumvirate of Granby, Disraeli, and J. C. Herries. This confused arrangement ended with Granby's resignation in 1851. He also declined to join the First Derby Ministry in 1852, and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire instead. Granby succeeded to the dukedom of Rutland on the death of his father in 1857. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1867. He also succeeded his father as Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, which post he held until his death on 4 March 1888, at the age of 73.

Personal life

Rutland never married. He had cherished a passion for Mary Anne Ricketts, later Lady Forester, but his father forbade the two to marry. He was also devoted to Lady Miles, wife of Sir Philip Miles and scandalised society by leaving her his 120 ft yacht, Lufra, in his will. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his brother John.

References

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External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Charles Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Thomas Chaplin George Finch	Member of Parliament for Stamford 1837–1852 With: Thomas Chaplin 1837–1838 Sir George Clerk, Bt 1838–1847 John Charles Herries 1847–1852	Succeeded by J. C. Herries Sir Frederic Thesiger
Preceded by Lord Charles Manners Edward Farnham	Member of Parliament for North Leicestershire 1852–1857 With: Edward Farnham 1852–1857	Succeeded by Edward Farnham Lord John Manners
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl Brownlow	Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire 1852–1857	Succeeded by The Earl of Yarborough
Preceded by The Duke of Rutland	Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire 1857–1888	Succeeded by The Earl Howe
Party political offices
Preceded by Lord George Bentinck	Conservative Leader in the Commons 1848	Succeeded by Vacancy
Preceded by Vacancy	Conservative Leader in the Commons with Benjamin Disraeli and J. C. Herries 1849–1851	Succeeded by Benjamin Disraeli
Peerage of England
Preceded by John Manners	Duke of Rutland 1857–1888	Succeeded by John Manners