Capell-Coningsby, George, 5th Earl of Essex (1757 -1839)

George Capell was the eldest son of William Anne Capell, 4th Earl of Essex, and Francis, daughter and coheir of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, K.B., and granddaughter on her mother's side of Thomas, Earl of Coningsby. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he received the degree of M.A. in 1777. He took the additional name of Coningsby on inheriting Hampton Court, in Herefordshire and the other estates of his grandmother, 20 December 1781. He was elected Member of Parliament for Westminster 1779 1780; for Lostwithiel 1781 1784; for Okehampton 1785 1790; and for Radnor 1794 1799, and was Recorder and High Steward of Leominster and Lord Lieutenant of the County of Hereford. He married, firstly, 6 June 1786, Sarah, daughter of Henry Bazett of St Helena, and widow of Edward Stephenson. He was long separated from her, and when she died 16 January 1838, he married, as his second wife, 14 April 1838, Catherine, daughter of Edward Stephens, of Leadwell, in Oxfordshire. She was a professional singer and actress. The library of Sarah Capel Coningsby, Countess of Essex, his first wife, was sold by Mr Ramy, 14 Regent Street on the 13 June 1838. He died 23 April 1839. He had no children and was succeeded by his nephew Arthur Algernon, the son of his younger brother, John.