A keen cricketer, as an accomplished right-hand batsman and noted wicket-keeper, he is almost always listed as Colonel the Hon. Charles Lennox in contemporary scorecards. He made 55 recorded appearances from 1784 to 1800, and played as an amateur in several county matches thereafter.
Lord's Cricket Ground has moved twice since, Richmond and Winchilsea's guarantee having provided the genesis of the world's best-known cricket ground, known nowadays as the Home of Cricket.[1]
Army general
Commissioned in 1787 as an ArmyCaptain at the age of 23, on 27 May 1789, when a Colonel in the Duke of York's Regiment, Lennox was involved in a duel with Frederick, Duke of York, who had expressed the opinion that "Colonel Lennox had heard words spoken to him at Daubigny's, to which no gentleman ought to have submitted", effectively an accusation of failing to respond to an insult in the way that a gentleman should. At Wimbledon Common, His Royal Highness was attended by Lord Rawdon, and Lennox by the Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham. Lennox fired, but his ball "grazed His Royal Highness's curl"; the Duke did not fire.[2] Lennox shortly after exchanged his company for the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel in the 35th Regiment of Foot.[3][4]
On 1 July of the same year, Lennox was involved in another duel, with Theophilus Swiftesq., in consequence of a pamphlet criticising his character published under Swift's name. They met at a field near Uxbridge Road, where Swift was wounded in the body, but recovered.[5]
Later that year, on 9 September 1789, Lennox married Lady Charlotte Gordon. In 1794 and 1795 he saw action at naval engagements against the French in the West Indies and Gibraltar, but was sent home after coming into conflict with his superiors.
An observer Quatre Bras the next day, then at Waterloo on 18 June, the Duke played no active part at either, his command being the defence of the city of Brussels.
During the summer of 1819, whilst touring Upper and Lower Canada to inspect the planned route for the Rideau Canal, Richmond was bitten on the hand by a fox. The wound healed and the duke continued his tour, but soon the initial symptoms of hydrophobia reappeared, a clear sign of rabies: the virus developed rapidly, and he died on 28 August. Richmond's body was returned to Quebec City, where he was buried at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on 4 September.[6]
The night before his death, he slept at the "Masonic Arms", which was renamed the "Duke of Richmond Arms" to commemorate the visit.[7]
Lady Sarah Lennox (c. 1794 – 8 September 1873), scandalised her family by eloping after Waterloo with Waterloo hero, General Peregrine Maitland, 17 years her senior. The courtship had gone unnoticed by her family.[9] The Duke of Wellington arranged for the couple to be married in Paris and fostered the family's ultimate acceptance of the marriage.[10]
Lady Georgiana Lennox (30 September 1795 – 15 December 1891), was a close friend of the Duke of Wellington, despite being 26 years younger than the Duke who referred to her as "dearest Georgy" in their many years of written correspondence. There are hints that the relationship may have been sexual,[11] including his gift of a miniature to her on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, and a pause in their written correspondence for ten years after Waterloo. She was also fond of Colonel Frederick Ponsonby whose recovery after Waterloo she fretted over.[12] After she married William FitzGerald, 22nd Baron de Ros, by whom she had issue, she resumed corresponding with Wellington until his death 27 years later.
Lord Henry Adam Lennox (6 September 1797 – 1812), fell overboard from HMS Blake and drowned.
Lord William Lennox (20 September 1799 – 18 February 1881), married first Mary Ann Paton and second Ellen Smith; had issue by the latter.
Lady Jane Lennox (c. 1800 – 27 March 1861), married Laurence Peel and had issue.
Captain Lord Frederick Lennox (24 January 1801 – 25 October 1829).
Lord Sussex Lennox (11 June 1802 – 12 April 1874), married Hon. Mary Lawless and had issue.
Lady Louisa Maddelena Lennox (2 October 1803 – 2 March 1900), married the Rt Hon. William Tighe, and died without issue.
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