George Rose

George Rose (1744-1818), politician, plantation owner and agent to Dominica. Born 17/06/1744 in Woodside, near Brechin, Scotland, the son of Rev. David Rose of Lethnot and Margaret, daughter of Donald Rose of Wester Clune. Attended Westminster School and afterward joined the Navy. Retired in 1762 after being wounded fighting in the West Indies. Married Theodora Duer (1744-1834), daughter of Major John Duer of Duers in Antigua and Fulham, Middlesex and his second wife Frances, daughter of Colonel John Frye. Brother-in-law of Rowland Duer senior (q.v.). With his brother-in-law Samuel Duer and his sister-in-law Henrietta Duer, he bought in 1773 two plantations on Dominica together with the enslaved people on them. Member of Parliament 1784-1818, holder of various political offices and agent for Dominica 1784-1805. Placeman of Pitt and friend of George III. Against the ending of the slave trade and emancipation. Wrote of abolition in 1797, ‘we are nevertheless to have it again year after year till it is stopped by some horrible mischief in the islands; this philanthropy and humanity will end in blood and confusion’.

1. George Rose has an entry in the ODNB as 'politician and publicist', as do his sons Sir George Henry Rose MP (q.v.) (on whom he reportedly settled his Dominican property in 1796) as 'diplomatist' and William Stewart Rose as 'poet and translator'.

2. 'Rose and Duers' were shown as the present possessors c. 1773 of Lots Nos. 72-74 (totalling 394 acres) in St Paul Dominica (all originally purchased by Walter Pringle); with Smith, Monteil and Bailey of Lot No. 70 (110 acres, originally purchased by Andrew Sommerville) and a further three leased Lots Nos. 21, 23 and 25 totalling 108 acres also in St Joseph.

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/rose-george-1744-1818 [accessed 14/08/2013]. The purchase in Dominica is detailed in an indenture of 1773 in Caribbeana Vol. II.

1. Roland Thorne, ‘Rose, George (1744–1818)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24088, accessed 30 Jan 2014]; C. A. Harris, ‘Rose, George Henry (1770–1855)’, rev. H. C. G. Matthew, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24091, accessed 30 Jan 2014]; Philip Hobsbaum, ‘Rose, William Stewart (1775–1843)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24100, accessed 30 Jan 2014].

2. John Byers References to the plan...of Dominica (1777) pp. 26 and 27.