Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville (1773-1846), Diplomat

Sitter in 4 portraits
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville, was widely considered one of the most handsome men of his time. He is best remembered for the fifteen-year affair he had with Henrietta Frances (Harriet) Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough. Their relationship produced two children and lasted until he married Lady Bessborough's niece Lady Henrietta Elizabeth Cavendish. Leveson-Gower entered Parliament as an MP in 1799, but his career was predominately in diplomacy. He served as Ambassador to The Hague in 1823-4 and, with two short breaks, as Ambassador to Paris from 1824 until 1841.