Biography of Roger Gresley 8th Baronet 1799-1837

Paternal Family Tree: Gresley

On 27th January 1776 [his father] Nigel Bowyer Gresley 7th Baronet (age 23) and Wilmot Gresley were married by which he acquired Drakelow Hall, Derbyshire. They were first cousins.

On 26th June 1796 [his father] Nigel Bowyer Gresley 7th Baronet (age 43) and [his mother] Maria Elizabeth Garway Lady Gresley were married at St James' Church, Piccadilly. She by marriage Lady Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire.

On 27th December 1799 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet was born to [his father] Nigel Bowyer Gresley 7th Baronet (age 46) and [his mother] Maria Elizabeth Garway Lady Gresley.

On 26th March 1808 [his father] Nigel Bowyer Gresley 7th Baronet (age 55) died. His son Roger (age 8) succeeded 8th Baronet Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire.

On 17th October 1817 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 17) entered Christ Church College, Oxford University where he remained until 1819 when he left without a degree.

                    TO SIR ROGER GRESLEY, BART.. TO SIR ROGER GRESLEY (age 21), Bart. On His Marriage With Lady [his wife] SOPHIA COVENTRY, Youngest Daughter Of The [his father-in-law] EARL OF COVENTRY (age 63).
                
                    JUNE 2, 1821
                
                    IF mortals bliss can gain below,
                
                    Thou, GRESLEY, must the blessing know;
                
                    Nature at first to thee was kind,
                
                    She gave a shrewd and pregnant mind,
                
                    By taste and learning since refin'd.
                
                    Fortune, not less her pow'r to shew,
                
                    Has deign'd her favours to bestow;
                
                    Of riches an abundant store,
                
                    And, what thou now wilt value more,
                
                    To heighten ev'ry charm of life,
                
                    A nobler treasure in a wife,
                
                    Surpassing all in Plutus' pow'r,
                
                    Were e'en Peru his added dow'r;
                
                    A wife in manners, form, and mind,
                
                    The proudest would rejoice to find,
                
                    Possessing ev'ry gentler grace
                
                    That best adorns the female race.
                
                    Oh! still may Fortune prove thy friend,
                
                    And bliss on all thy course attend,
                
                    Till Nature, in a late decay,
                
                    Shall softly steal your lives away,
                
                    And angels then be hov'ring near
                
                    To waft ye to a happier sphere.

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On 2nd June 1821 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 21) and Sophia Catherine Coventry Lady Gresley and Des Voeux were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. There was no issue from the marriage. She by marriage Lady Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire. She the daughter of George Coventry 7th Earl Coventry (age 63) and Margaret "Peggy" Pitches Countess Coventry (age 61).

In 1826 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 26) was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

In 1827 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 27) sold the Gresley Canal to pay off his gambling debts.

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In 1830 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 30) was elected MP Durham but for some unknown reason was unseated in 1831.

In 1831 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 31) was elected Romney Marsh which seat he held until 1832.

On 26th March 1831 [his father-in-law] George Coventry 7th Earl Coventry (age 72) died at Coventry House, Piccadilly [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] George (age 46) succeeded 8th Earl Coventry. Mary Beauclerk Countess Coventry (age 39) by marriage Countess Coventry.

In 1835 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 35) was elected MP South Derbyshire which seat he held until Jul 1837.

Before 12th October 1837 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 37) was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

On 12th October 1837 Roger Gresley 8th Baronet (age 37) died. He was buried at St George and St Mary's Church, Church Gresley on 28th October 1837. His first cousin William (age 31) succeeded 9th Baronet Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire.

On 16th July 1839 Henry William Des Voeux 3rd Baronet (age 32) and [his former wife] Sophia Catherine Coventry Lady Gresley and Des Voeux were married. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] George Coventry 7th Earl Coventry and [his former mother-in-law] Margaret "Peggy" Pitches Countess Coventry (age 79).

On 29th March 1875 [his former wife] Sophia Catherine Coventry Lady Gresley and Des Voeux died at 39 Berkeley Square, Mayfair.