George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville
The Viscount Sackville | |
|---|---|
1778 portrait of Germain by George Romney | |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 10 November 1775 – February 1782 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Lord North |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
| Succeeded by | Welbore Ellis |
| First Lord of Trade | |
| In office 10 November 1775 – 6 November 1779 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Lord North |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Carlisle |
| Member of Parliament for East Grinstead | |
| In office 1767–1782 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Yorke Sir Whistler Webster |
| Succeeded by | Charles Sackville, Earl of Middlesex Sir Thomas Hales, 3rd Baronet |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Sackville 26 January 1716 |
| Died | 26 August 1785 (aged 69) Stoneland Lodge, Sussex |
| Party | Tory (Northite) |
| Spouse |
Diana Sambrooke
(m. 1754; died 1778) |
| Children | 5, including Charles |
| Parent(s) | Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset Elizabeth Colyear |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
Major-General George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville, PC (born George Sackville; 26 January 1716 – 26 August 1785) was a British Army officer and politician who served as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1775 to 1782. Serving in the North ministry during the American War of Independence, he was a hardliner, "the chief architect of the American War in Britain," receiving significant blame for Britain's defeat.
Germain's war policy was based on the mistaken belief that loyalism to the crown was widespread and would prevail if given military support." His issuance of confusing instructions to British commanders in North America, coupled with his failure to understand either the geography of Britain's American colonies or the determination of the rebels' resolve have led many historians to support such arguments.
He served in the British army in the War of the Austrian Succession and in the European theater of Seven Years' War. In the decisive Battle of Minden, his lack of vigorous action was considered a disgrace. He called for a court-martial to clear his name, but the court decided against him. His military career ended, but after a period he was elected to Parliament and gained prominence politically in the ministry of Lord North. His career ended with the fall of the North ministry in March 1782, when Parliament no longer supported the American war.