Robinson, Thomas Philip Weddell, 2nd Earl de Grey (1781 -1859)

Thomas Philip Robinson was the eldest son of Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham, and his wife, Mary, a daughter of Philip Yorke (later Earl of Hardwicke), and Jemima Yorke, 2nd Marchioness Grey. His younger brother, Frederick John Robinson, Viscount Goderich (subsequently 1st Earl of Ripon), was Prime Minister from August 1827 to January 1828.
In 1798 Thomas was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge, graduating MA in 1801.
He succeeded his father as third baron in 1786, and became the sixth baronet Robinson of Newby in 1792, being known as Lord Grantham. In 1803 he changed his name from Robinson to Weddell. In 1833 he succeeded his aunt as second Earl de Grey according to a special remainder, and also inherited the Wrest Park estate in Bedfordshire. At the same time he changed his name to De Grey.
He was made Privy Counsellor in 1834 while holding office as First Lord of the Admiralty until April 1835, and a Knight of the Garter in 1844. He was also appointed yeomanry aide-de-camp to King William IV and held a similar position under Queen Victoria.
He was nominated as Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in 1818, an office he held until his death, and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from September 1841 to July 1844.
On the founding of the Institute of British Architects in London in 1834 he was invited to become its first president, remaining so up to his death in 1859.
Earl de Grey was also a fellow of the Royal Society from 1841, a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and served as one of the New Buckingham Palace Commissioners from 1848. He designed the new Wrest House between February 1833 and October 1839, assisted by James Clephan, and maintained the Park adding a number of decorations and statues.
In 1805 he married Lady Henrietta, daughter of William Cole, 1st Earl of Enniskillen, and had
two daughters. Henrietta died in 1848. Lord de Grey survived her by eleven years and died in November 1859, aged 77. He was succeeded in the barony of Lucas of Crudwell by his daughter, Ann, who was Countess Cowper by marriage. His other titles passed to his nephew, George Robinson, who became 2nd Earl of Ripon, and subsequently 1st Marquess of Ripon