George Rice (died 1779)

George Rice
George Rice, pastel portrait by William Hoare
Born	1724 (1724)
Died	1779 (1780) (aged 55)
Occupation	British politician

George Rice (1724–1779) was a Welsh politician and courtier.

Life

He was son of Edward Rice of Newton, Carmarthenshire, M.P. for the county in 1722, by Lucy, daughter of John Morley Trevor of Glynde, Sussex. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 26 January 1742, at the age of 17, but took no degree.

Rice devoted himself to politics and local affairs. At the general election of 1754 he was returned for Carmarthenshire after a warm contest with Sir Thomas Stepney, 7th Baronet, and retained his seat, over a period of twenty-five years, until his death, being re-elected four times without opposition. He was made Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire in May 1755 (reappointed 23 June 1761), and, when the Carmarthenshire militia was embodied (7 December 1759), he was nominated colonel of the regiment.

Rice became Chamberlain of Brecon and of Breconshire, Glamorgan, and Radnorshire in 1765, and was sworn in mayor of Carmarthen on 5 June 1767. By his marriage, on 16 August 1756, with Cecil (1733–1793), daughter of William Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot of Hensol, Lord Steward, he increased his political influence, and on 21 March 1761 he accepted office under the Duke of Newcastle as a lord commissioner of the board of trade and foreign plantations, with a salary of £1,000 a year. This post he held in successive ministries until April 1770, when Lord North selected him for the court appointment of Treasurer of the Chamber, and he was sworn a member of the privy council on 4 May following.

Rice died in office at the age of 55, on 3 August 1779.

Family

Rice's widow Cecil became a peeress in her own right as Baroness Dynevor on her father's death on 27 April 1782, and died 14 March 1793, leaving, with two daughters, two sons: George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor (1765–1852); and Edward Rice (died 1867), dean of Gloucester, whose son was Francis William Rice, 5th Baron Dynevor.

References

•  "Rice, George". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Rice, George". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.