George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville
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The Right Honourable The Viscount Sackville PC |
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The Viscount Sackville (1766)
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| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
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In office 10 November 1775 – February 1782 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Lord North |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
| Succeeded by | Welbore Ellis |
| First Lord of Trade | |
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In office 10 November 1775 – 6 November 1779 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Lord North |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Carlisle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Germain 26 January 1716 |
| Died |
26 August 1785 (aged 69) Stoneland Lodge, Sussex |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Diana Sambrooke (d. 1778) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville PC (26 January 1716 – 26 August 1785), styled The Honourable George Sackville until 1720, Lord George Sackville from 1720 to 1770 and Lord George Germain from 1770 to 1782, was a British soldier and politician who was Secretary of State for America in Lord North's cabinet during the American War of Independence.
His ministry received much of the blame for Britain's loss of thirteen American colonies. His issuance of detailed instructions in military matters, coupled with his failure to understand either the geography of the colonies or the determination of the colonists, may justify this conclusion. He had two careers. His military career had distinction, serving in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War including at the decisive Battle of Minden, but ended with a court martial. His political career ended with the fall of the North government in March 1782.
Sackville was the third son of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant-General Walter Philip Colyear. His Godfather George I attended his baptism. He was educated at Westminster School in London and graduated from Trinity College in Dublin in 1737. Between 1730 and 1737 his father held the post of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. While in Dublin he made friends with the celebrated writer Jonathan Swift. He also encountered Lord Ligonier who would later assist his career in the military.
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