Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Grosvenor, Thomas (1764-1851)
GROSVENOR, THOMAS (1764–1851), field-marshal, colonel 65th foot, third son of Thomas Grosvenor, M.P. for Chester (brother of Richard, first earl Grosvenor [q. v.], by his wife Deborah, daughter and coheiress of Stephen Skynner of Walthamstow, was born 30 May 1764. He was educated at Westminster School, and on 1 Oct. 1779 was appointed ensign 1st foot guards, in which he became lieutenant and captain in 1784, and captain and lieutenant-colonel on 25 April 1793. As a subaltern he was in command of the piquet at the Bank of England during the Gordon riots of 1780. He served with his battalion in Flanders in 1793, and again in Holland and in the retreat to Bremen in 1794–5, and in the expedition to the Helder in 1799. He became a major-general 29 April 1802, and held brigade commands in the west of England and in the London district during the invasion alarms of 1803–5. He commanded a brigade in the expedition to Copenhagen in 1807, and again in the expedition to Walcheren in 1809, when he was second in command of Sir Eyre Coote's division. He was appointed colonel 97th Queen's German foot in 1807, and transferred to the 65th foot in 1814. He became a lieutenant-general in 1808, and general in 1819. On the Prince of Wales's birthday (9 Nov.) 1846 Grosvenor and Sir George Nugent, the two senior generals in the army, and the Marquis of Anglesey, their junior, were created field-marshals.
Grosvenor represented Chester in the whig interest in eight successive parliaments. He was first returned in 1795, on the death of his father, who had represented the city since 1755, and he vacated the seat in 1825 in favour of the Hon. (afterwards Lord) Robert Grosvenor. Grosvenor was returned for Stockbridge at the same election, and retired from parliamentary life at the general election of 1830. He was for many years a staunch and respected supporter of the turf. Grosvenor married first, in 1797, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, bart.; secondly, in 1831, Anne, youngest daughter of George Wilbraham of Delamere House, sometime M.P. for Cheshire. Grosvenor died at Mount Ararat, near Richmond, Surrey, on 20 Jan. 1851.
[Foster's Peerage under ‘Westminster;’ Hamilton's Hist. Grenadier Guards, vol. iii.; G. A. Raikes's Roll of Officers 1st York and Lancaster Regiment (late 65th foot); Gent. Mag. 1851, pt. i. 313.]