By 1777 Robert Fulke Greville had risen to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 1st Foot Guards. The most notable aspect of his army career was as equerry to King George the Third, between 1781 and 1797. These fine scales were used by Greville during this period and according to one particular scrap of paper kept within the shagreen case, were the ‘Gift of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth to my dear father when Groom to the Bed chamber to His Majesty George 3rd’. It was during this period that King George III suffered his 'madness' and Greville's meticulously kept diaries became valuable first hand records of the king during his illness; some of the recorded incidents being incorporated into the play and film adaption ‘The Madness of George III’.
In 1774 Greville began his political career, initially as M.P for Warwick supporting the Tory government of Lord North. In 1794, the year these scales were made, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He returned to the Royal Household as Groom of the Bedchamber between 1800-1818. From 1812 he was at Windsor Castle, during the final onset of the King’s illness. Greville’s diaries are now held in the Royal Collection.
These scales are made of steel with silver-gilt pans hallmarked London 1794, maker H.S or S.H, perhaps for Solomon Hougham, within their wonderful, exceptionally fine, green-stained shagreen case.
7 ¾ in x 4 1/2 in x 1 1/8 in
Item Code: 5234
£ 3250
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