SACKVILLE

Lord George served with distinction in the army, besides being an M.P. for over 40 years, but was court-martialled and disgraced for failing to lead the cavalry in pursuit of the French at Minden in 1759. George III restored him to the Privy Council and he subsequently served as Commissioner of Trade and Plantations, and Secretary of State for the Colonies.On Sunday 25th November 1781, Lord George brought the news to Lord North at No. 10, sent to the Admiralty by semaphore from Falmouth, of the final British surrender at Yorktown Heights to General Washington. Germain reported that North 'opened his arms, exclaiming wildly, as he passed up and down the apartment during a few minutes. Oh God! It is all over. ' (Christopher Jones, 'No. 10 Downing Street', 1985).