Archibald John Primrose, 4th Earl of Rosebery, (14 October 1783 – 4 March 1868), styled Viscount Primrose until 1814, was a British politician.

Early life

Primrose was born on 14 October 1783. He was the eldest son of Neil Primrose, 3rd Earl of Rosebery and, his second wife, Mary Vincent. Among his siblings were Lady Charlotte Primrose (wife of Gen. Kenneth Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham) Lady Mary Shepherd, Lady Dorothea Arabella Primrose (wife of William Hervey of Bodwell Hall), and Hon. Francis Ward Primrose (who married Percy Gore).

He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, gaining his MA in 1804.

Career

He was Member of Parliament for Helston from 1805 to 1806 and Cashel from 1806 to 1807.

Personal life

thumb|right|250px|Portrait of his second wife, the former Hon. Anne Margaret Anson, by [[Thomas Barber (1771–1843)|Thomas Barber, ]]

Lord Rosebery married firstly Harriett Bouverie (d. 1834), daughter of Hon. Bartholomew Bouverie (a son of the 1st Earl of Radnor) in 1808. Before their divorce in 1815, they had four children: Lord Roseberry then married Anne Margaret Anson (1796–1882), the eldest daughter of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson and Lady Anne Margaret Coke (a daughter of the 1st Earl of Leicester) in 1819. They had two children:

  • Lady Anne Primrose (1820–1862), who married, as his third wife, the Rt. Hon. Henry Tufnell, MP for Ipswich and Devonport, in 1848.

References