Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland
Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland, KG PC (15 March 1754 – 24 October 1787) was a British politician and nobleman. He was the eldest son of John Manners, Marquess of Granby. He was styled Lord Roos from 1760 to 1770, then Marquess of Granby from 1770 to 1779, and became Duke of Rutland in 1779.
Education and early career: He attended Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, earning an MA in 1774. In 1774 he was elected Member of Parliament for Cambridge University. He supported free trade with the American colonies and became a close ally of William Pitt the Younger.
Marriage and family: On 26 December 1775 he married Lady Mary Isabella Somerset, a celebrated beauty and host. They had six children, including John Manners. Mary was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds several times.
Political roles: He was connected with the Rockingham Whigs and opposed the North Ministry. In 1779 he inherited the dukedom and took on higher offices. He served as colonel of the Leicestershire militia, was Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1782. He joined the Privy Council in 1783 and served as Lord Privy Seal from December 1783 to November 1784.
Ireland: He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in February 1784. He supported Pitt’s Irish policy and the idea of reform, but it faced strong opposition. A 1785 trade plan passed in the Irish Parliament but was weakened by British opposition and failed in its new form.
Legacy and death: Rutland was known for his sociable manner and generous entertaining at Dublin Castle. In 1787 he undertook a long tour of Ireland, but his health declined due to heavy drinking. He died of liver disease on 24 October 1787 at the Viceregal Lodge in Dublin, aged 33, and was buried at St Mary the Virgin's Church, Bottesford.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:38 (CET).