George Milles, 4th Baron Sondes

The Right Honourable

The Baron Sondes
Birth nameJohn George Watson
Born20 January 1794
DiedDecember 17, 1874(1874-12-17) (aged 80)
Norfolk
Buried
North Elmham, Norfolk
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1812–1816
1826–1838
RankMajor
UnitRoyal Horse Guards
Norfolk Yeomanry
Battles / wars
AwardsMilitary General Service Medal
Funeral Hatchment of George Milles, 4th Baron Sondes, in St Mary's Church, North Elmham, Norfolk. Arms of Milles impaling Knatchbull

George John Milles, 4th Baron Sondes (20 January 1794 – 17 December 1874), styled Hon. George Watson until 1820 and Hon. George Milles from 1820 to 1836, was an English peer.

George was the second son of Lewis Watson, 2nd Baron Sondes, and his wife Mary Milles. On 17 October 1811, he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford. He purchased a cornetcy in the Royal Horse Guards on 15 December 1812.[1] He purchased a lieutenancy on 24 March 1814,[2] and fought at the Battle of Waterloo.[3] He retired from the army in May 1816.[4] George changed his surname to Milles, that of his mother's family, on 27 December 1820, in accordance with the will of his grandfather Richard Milles.[5][6] He inherited Milles' estate at North Elmham in Norfolk. He married Eleanor Knatchbull, 5th daughter of Sir Edward Knatchbull, 8th Baronet.[7]

He was commissioned a captain in the 2nd Regiment of Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry on 27 June 1826.[8] In 1830, he served as High Sheriff of Norfolk.[9] On 31 March 1831, he was promoted to major in the Norfolk Yeomanry.[10]

He succeeded his brother in the peerage on 14 March 1836. On 20 September 1836, he was commissioned a captain in the East Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry,[11] and resigned his commission in the Norfolk Yeomanry in April 1838.[12] He was present to give homage in person at the coronation of Queen Victoria in June 1838.[13]

Sondes was a shareholder in the Faversham Public Rooms Company, which was wound up in 1871.[14] He died on 17 December 1874 and was succeeded by his eldest son George Milles, 1st Earl Sondes.

  1. ^ "No. 16680". The London Gazette. 15 December 1812. p. 2499.
  2. ^ "No. 16875". The London Gazette. 29 March 1814. p. 678.
  3. ^ Jones, George (1817). The Battle of Waterloo. Vol. II. London: John Booth. p. 4.
  4. ^ "No. 17137". The London Gazette. 18 May 1816. p. 932.
  5. ^ "No. 17665". The London Gazette. 2 January 1821. p. 8.
  6. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Watson, George John" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
  7. ^ cracroftspeerage
  8. ^ "No. 18266". The London Gazette. 7 July 1826. p. 1686.
  9. ^ "No. 18652". The London Gazette. 2 February 1830. p. 257.
  10. ^ "No. 18792". The London Gazette. 12 April 1831. p. 692.
  11. ^ "No. 19423". The London Gazette. 27 September 1836. p. 1677.
  12. ^ "No. 19611". The London Gazette. 27 April 1838. p. 977.
  13. ^ "No. 19632". The London Gazette. 4 July 1838. p. 1522.
  14. ^ "No. 23737". The London Gazette. 16 May 1871. p. 2365.