Thomas Grey 1654-1720
Thomas GREY 2nd Earl of Stamford 1654-1720
Biographical Note
Only son of Thomas Grey, Baron Grey of Groby (1622-1657). Grey was known as Lord Grey of Groby from his father's death, until he succeeded to the earldom following the death of his grandfather, Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford. MA Christ Church College, Oxford 1668. Took his seat in the House of Lords in 1675. His career in the Lords was notable for being allied with the country rather than the crown, and he was involved in numerous plots. When The Prince of Orange invaded in 1688, Grey joined him with several hundred men. He was appointed to the privy council in 1694, and in the following years became commissioner of Greenwich Hospital, commissioner of trade and foreign plantations, lord lieutenant of Devon, custos rotulorum for Leicestershire, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and first lord of trade and foreign plantations. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1708.
Books
Grey's will makes no reference to his library, which was sold by auction in London on 16 January 1721. Advertisements in the Post Boy and other newspapers specify that the sale contains Grey's entire library, and describe it as 'a choice and large Collection of many Valuable and Uncommon Books in Greek, Latin, French, and English, in Philology, History, Geography, and (particularly) a complete Collection of Common Law and Parliamentary Affairs'.
Sources
- Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
- Greaves, Richard L. "Grey, Thomas, second earl of Stamford (1653/4–1720), conspirator and politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- Will of The Right Honorable Thomas Earl of Stamford, The National Archives PROB 11/573/5.
Bibliotheca librorum maximè insignium: or, a catalogue of the entire library of the Right Honourable Thomas late Earl of Stamford, [London, 1721], ESTC T7930.