Description:In 1790 George Granville Leveson-Gower was appointed to the diplomatic post of Ambassador to Paris. At the end of the eighteenth century, France was gripped with revolutionary fervour. Paris was a dangerous place for both native and foreign aristocrats, and increasing hostilities between France and England meant that George Granville, was in an extremely difficult situation.
Letter from Gower to Pitt concerning his role as Ambassador to Paris, August 2nd 1792
George Granville's papers include correspondence relating to this diplomatic position. Notable amongst these is a letter from August 1792 written by George Granville himself to Prime minister William Pitt (1750-1806), who was known as Pitt the younger. In the letter above George Granville writes that he has heard about ‘some new arrangements in the Cabinet’, and expresses his concern that Pitt may ‘dispose of the Post which I occupy’. The Duke advises Pitt against removing his post of Ambassador ‘in case it can facilitate the accomplishment of any object which you may have in view’.
Click on the image on the left to learn more about George Granville Leveson-Gower's appointment as Ambassador to Paris.