Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Waldegrave, George Granville
WALDEGRAVE, GEORGE GRANVILLE, second Baron Radstock (1786–1857), vice-admiral, eldest son of William Waldegrave, first lord Radstock [q. v.], was born on 24 Sept. 1786. In 1794 his name was placed on the books of the Courageux, commanded by his father, but he seems to have first gone to sea in 1798 in the Agincourt, his father's flagship at Newfoundland. After eight years' service, on 16 Feb. 1807 he was made a captain. From 1807 to 1811 he commanded the Thames in the Mediterranean, and from 1811 to 1815 the Volontaire in the Mediterranean, and afterwards on the north coast of Spain. During these eight years he was almost constantly engaged in preventing the enemy's coasting trade, in destroying coast batteries, or in cutting out and destroying armed vessels. After paying off the Volontaire, he had no further service. On 4 June 1815 he was nominated a C.B. On 20 Aug. 1825 he succeeded his father as Lord Radstock, and on 23 Nov. 1841 was made a rear-admiral. He became a vice-admiral on 1 July 1851, and died on 11 May 1857. He married, in 1823, Esther Caroline, youngest daughter of John Puget of Totteridge, a director of the bank of England, and left issue. His only son, Granville Augustus William, succeeded as third Baron Radstock. During the last forty years of his life Radstock took an active part in the administration of naval charities, and formed a curious and valuable collection of volumes and pamphlets relating to naval history. This was presented by his widow, Esther Lady Radstock, to the library of the Royal United Service Institution, where it now is.
[O'Byrne's Nav. Biogr. Dict.; Foster's Peerage.]