Grey.
Thomas Grey, second Earl of Stamford, born in 1654, was the only son of Thomas Grey, Lord Grey of Groby. He succeeded his grandfather in the earldom in 1673. In 1681 he was arrested on a charge of complicity in the Rye House plot, and remained in the Tower until March, 1686. On the landing of the Prince of Orange he took up arms in his favour, and afterwards was appointed to numerous official positions, becoming Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and President of the Board of Trade and Foreign Plantations. On the accession of Anne, he was dismissed from all his offices, but afterwards regained his position at the head of the Board of Trade. He died in 1720. His residence in Great Queen Street must have terminated some time before 1703, at which date “Henry Browne” is shown in occupation.
Browne.
Henry Browne, fifth Viscount Montagu, was born some time before 1641.[[292]] He succeeded his brother Francis in the title in June, 1708. His residence at the house in Great Queen Street commenced some time, probably not long, before 1703,[[293]] and lasted at least until 1715,[[294]] possibly until his death, which occurred in 1717 at Epsom.[[295]] He was succeeded in the title by his son, Anthony, who three years later married Barbara Webb, to whose mother, Lady Barbara Webb, daughter of Lord Belasyse, the eastern half of Bristol House had come by way of bequest.
After the occupation by Lord Montagu the house was used as the residence of the Portuguese Envoy.[[296]] The earliest mention of him as occupying the house is dated 5th March, 1718–9. How long the Embassy was situated here is uncertain. The house is referred to in Sir Godfrey Kneller’s will,[[297]] dated 27th April, 1723, as “now in the possession of the Portugal Envoy.” In a codicil, dated 18th July, in the same year, it is described as “now or late in the occupation of the Portugal Envoy,” and Kneller states that the premises are much out of repair, and that he proposes to spend a sum of £200 in works. It would almost seem therefore that the envoy left the house between April and July, 1723, and some confirmation of this suggestion is found in the fact that in the Westminster sewer ratebook, dated 18th July, 1723, the name, not of the Portuguese Envoy, but of Sir Godfrey Kneller, the owner, appears for the house.
After the departure of the Portuguese Envoy, the house was used for the purposes of the Great Wardrobe.[[298]] The parish ratebooks from 1730 (the earliest extant) until 1748 show “Thos. Dummer, Esq.,” the deputy[[299]] of John, Duke of Montagu, keeper of the Great Wardrobe, as in occupation.
The occupants of Nos. 57–58 from the time of the Great Wardrobe were as follows:—
| 1750–60. | John Jackson. |
| 1761–71. | Benjamin Wilson. |
| 1771–72. | —— Salvadore. |
| 1772–76. | John Henderson. |
| 1777–82. | Richard Brinsley Sheridan. |
| 1782–90. | A. and E. Boak. |
| 1791– | Boak and Banson. |
For particulars as to Benjamin Wilson, see under Nos. 55–56, Great Queen Street (p. 57).