George Rose

17th Jun 1744 - 13th Jan 1818


Biography

George Rose (1744-1818), politician, plantation owner and agent to Dominica. Born 17/06/1744 in Woodside, near Brechin, Scotland, the son of Rev. David Rose of Lethnot and Margaret, daughter of Donald Rose of Wester Clune. Attended Westminster School and afterward joined the Navy. Retired in 1762 after being wounded fighting in the West Indies. Married Theodora Duer (1744-1834), daughter of Major John Duer of Duers in Antigua and Fulham, Middlesex and his second wife Frances, daughter of Colonel John Frye. Brother-in-law of Rowland Duer senior (q.v.). With his brother-in-law Samuel Duer and his sister-in-law Henrietta Duer, he bought in 1773 two plantations on Dominica together with the enslaved people on them. Member of Parliament 1784-1818, holder of various political offices and agent for Dominica 1784-1805. Placeman of Pitt and friend of George III. Against the ending of the slave trade and emancipation. Wrote of abolition in 1797, ‘we are nevertheless to have it again year after year till it is stopped by some horrible mischief in the islands; this philanthropy and humanity will end in blood and confusion’.

  1. George Rose has an entry in the ODNB as 'politician and publicist', as do his sons Sir George Henry Rose MP (q.v.) (on whom he reportedly settled his Dominican property in 1796) as 'diplomatist' and William Stewart Rose as 'poet and translator'.

  2. 'Rose and Duers' were shown as the present possessors c. 1773 of Lots Nos. 72-74 (totalling 394 acres) in St Paul Dominica (all originally purchased by Walter Pringle); with Smith, Monteil and Bailey of Lot No. 70 (110 acres, originally purchased by Andrew Sommerville) and a further three leased Lots Nos. 21, 23 and 25 totalling 108 acres also in St Joseph.


Sources

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/rose-george-1744-1818 [accessed 14/08/2013]. The purchase in Dominica is detailed in an indenture of 1773 in Caribbeana Vol. II.

  1. Roland Thorne, ‘Rose, George (1744–1818)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24088, accessed 30 Jan 2014]; C. A. Harris, ‘Rose, George Henry (1770–1855)’, rev. H. C. G. Matthew, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24091, accessed 30 Jan 2014]; Philip Hobsbaum, ‘Rose, William Stewart (1775–1843)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24100, accessed 30 Jan 2014].

  2. John Byers References to the plan...of Dominica (1777) pp. 26 and 27.


Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
Theodora Duer
Children
2 sons including Sir George Henry Rose (1771-1855), 1 daughter
School
Westminster
Oxford DNB Entry

Associated Estates (1)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1773 [SY] - → Joint owner

This Indre made the 18 Dec, 24 Geo. III. 1783 Between Rowland Duer of Chichester, co. Sussex, Esq. (eldest Brother and h. at 1. of Samuel Duer 1. of the I. of Dominica deceased) of the 1st part and Henrietta Duer of Fulham co. Midd. but now of Farnham co. Surry spinster of the 2d part and Geo. Rose of Duke Str. Westminster Esq. of the 3 d part. Whereas Geo. Rose, Henrietta Duer and Sam. Duer did at their joint expence in July 1773 purchase of Tho. Pringle of Dominica Esq. all those two Plantations called Morne Daniel and Cane Field with slaves cattle etc. and by Indres of lease and release dated the 30 and 31 July 1773 made between Tho. Pringle of the one part and Geo. Rose, Henrietta Duer aud Sam. Duer of the other he granted the plantations to them to hold as tenants in common to the use of him Tho. Pringle for 500 years and on payment of £11,000 and interest by them the term of 500 years should cease.


Legacies Summary

Physical (1)

Country house
Cuffnells [Purchased] 

Political (1)

MP
 
election →
Launceston Cornwall
1784 - 1788
election →
Lymington Hampshire
1788 - 1790
election →
Christchurch Hampshire
1790 - 1818

Relationships (12)

Brother-in-laws
Father → Son
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Niece
Uncle → Niece
Uncle → Niece
Uncle → Nephew
Brother-in-law → Sister-in-law
Brother-in-law → Sister-in-law
Father → Daughter
Father → Son
Brother-in-law → Sister-in-law

Addresses (1)

Cuffnells, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, Wessex, England