The family papers of the Earls Grey of Howick constitute one of England's great political archives, and also include extensive estate papers. Charles 1st Earl Grey (1719-1807) was a soldier who fought in the American War of Independence, and was raised to the peerage as Baron Grey of Howick (1801) and Viscount Howick and Earl Grey (1806). Charles 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845) was Prime Minister from 1830-1834. Henry George 3rd Earl Grey (1802- 1894) was Secretary at War 1835-1839 and Secretary for the Colonies 1846-1852. General Charles Grey (1804-1870) was Private Secretary to Prince Albert and later to Queen Victoria. Albert 4th Earl Grey was Governor-General of Canada 1904-1911. The archive also includes the papers of several relatives by marriage, notably the diplomat John Viscount Ponsonby (ca. 1770-1855, brother-in-law of 2nd Earl Grey), and Evelyn Baring, 1st Baron Howick of Glendale (1903-1973), colonial governor, who married Lady Mary Grey, daughter and heiress of 5th Earl Grey. There are also papers of Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer (1841-1917) and his second wife, parents-in-law of Lady Mary Grey, and papers of various female members of the family. The archive does not, however, include the papers of the Fallodon branch of the Grey family.
The estate papers mainly relate to the Greys' estates in Northumberland.
From the guide to the Earl Grey Family Papers, 16th-20th century (predominantly 18th-20th century), (Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections)
