Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton

The Lord Southampton
Portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds c. 1760
Member of Parliament
for Orford
In office
1759–1761
Member of Parliament
for Bury St Edmunds
In office
1761–1774
Member of Parliament
for Thetford
In office
1774–1780
Personal details
Born25 June 1737
Died21 March 1797
Stanhope Street, London
Resting placeSt James's burial ground, Hampstead Road
NationalityBritish
Political partyWhig
SpouseAnne Warren
ChildrenSixteen including:

George FitzRoy, 2nd Baron Southampton

Charles FitzRoy
Parents
RelativesAugustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (brother)
Residence(s)FitzRoy Farm, Highgate
OccupationSoldier and politician
Military service
AllegianceKingdom of Great Britain
Branch/serviceBritish Army
Years of service1752–1797
RankGeneral
Unit1st Foot Guards
Battles/wars

General Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton (25 June 1737 – 21 March 1797) was a British Army officer who served in the Seven Years' War and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1759 to 1780. The second son of Lord Augustus FitzRoy, FitzRoy joined the 1st Foot Guards as an ensign in 1752 and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1758. In the following year he fought at the Battle of Minden as an aide de camp, where he was a part of the controversy surrounding Lord George Sackville's slow reaction to orders sent to him. FitzRoy was also present at the Battle of Vellinghausen in 1761. Having been quickly promoted through the ranks with the support of his powerful family, he was promoted to major-general in 1772 and became a general in 1793.

With the patronage of his elder brother Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, FitzRoy also had a long political career. He was a Groom of the Bedchamber from 1760 to 1762 and Whig Member of Parliament for Orford from 1759 to 1761, for Bury St Edmunds from 1761 to 1774 and for Thetford from 1774 to 1780. He was created Baron Southampton on 17 October 1780 for his support of Lord North's ministry and became Groom of the Stole to the Prince of Wales later in the year, a position he would hold for the rest of his life. He was succeeded by his eldest son, George, upon his death in 1797.