Fox, Henry Richard, 3rd Baron Holland (1773 -1840)

Henry Richard Fox was the only son of Simon Fox, 2nd Baron Holland, and Mary Fitzpatrick, daughter of John, Earl of Gowry. Following the death of his father in December 1774, and of his mother in 1778, he was brought up by his uncle, the statesman Charles James Fox. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated 19 October 1790, age 16, and was created an M.A. 20 June 1792. He travelled on the Continent, returning in company with the wife of Sir Godfrey Webster, who shortly afterwards bore him a child. Eventually the pair married. Lord Holland took his seat in the House of Lords in 1796, and soon proved a useful member in the Whig interest. In 1806 he was Lord Privy Seal in the Cabinet of all the talents and was dismissed with them in 1807. In 1830 he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Lord Grey's ministry, a post which he held with short intermissions until his death. Part of the library of Henry Edward, 4th and last Baron Holland was sold anonymously in a mixed sale by S.L. Sotheby & Co 29 November 1847, the relevant portion of the sale being described as `some valuable duplicate books from the library of a nobleman'. Part of the library of Charles James Fox was sold anonymously at auction by E. Jeffery of Pall Mall 17 July 1813. The catalogue is called `A catalogue of valuable books including some part of the library of a distinguished senator '.