Description:Like his father, Sir John Leveson-Gower (1694-1754), the first Earl Gower, Granville Leveson-Gower was an influential figure in Staffordshire politics. He served as Lord Lieutenant of the County from 1755 until 1800, and was appointed High Steward of Stafford in 1769.
The Sutherland Papers include many documents relating to Granville’s posts in public office. The collection contains a document with the Borough Seal appointing the Mayor and Burgesses of Stafford, and appointing Earl Gower as High Steward of Stafford. In addition to documents certifying his political appointments, there are a number of papers relating to Granville’s professional responsibilities as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
Amongst the papers relating to Granville’s public office is a document outlining his responsibilities as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
The document begins by stating that ‘the Kings most excellent Majesty according to the Acts of Parliament for Ordering the Militia Forces of the several Counties of this Kingdom Hath by Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain Nominated and Appointed…the said Granville Earl Gower his Lieutenant for the said County of Stafford’.
As Lord Lieutenant, Granville was responsible over ‘Stafford and of and in all Boroughs Liberties and Places Incorporated and Priviledged and other Places whatsoever within the said County and Limits and Precincts of the same’.
The document describes the professional responsibilities of a Lord Lieutenant, stating that ‘such Lieutenants Respectively have power and authority among other things to present to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors the Names of such person and persons as they Respectively shall think fit to be Deputy Lieutenant’.
To find out more about Granville Leveson-Gower's role as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, click on the image on the left.