Henry Seymour Conway was toasted by Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. Samuel Adams formally requested that his portrait be hung in Faneuil Hall. He was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin. Several American towns were named in his honor, including Conway N.H. His likeness is found on the Conway town flag and his portrait is displayed in the Conway Town Hall.

Before I answer that question, let me tell you a little about Conway's life. Born in 1719 or possibly 1721, 2nd son of the first Lord Conway and brother of the first Earl of Hertford, Henry was destined for a prominent place in Britain's social register. The Conway family was intertwined with the Seymour family whose most famous member was Jane Seymour. The Conway's ancestral home is Ragley Hall in Alcester near Stratford on Avon.

After he completed his education at Eaton, he launched immediately into a distinguished military career becoming lieutenant of the 5th dragoons. By 1746 he had become a Col. of the Royal Horse Guards. In 1772 he became a General and a Field Marshall in 1793. Many of these rapid promotions were due to his distinguished service in battle. He was present at the battle of Fontenoy, was sent north to resist the Jacobite rebellion and took a leading part when Charles' Army was destroyed at Culloden, the last battle fought on British soil.

Conway was taken prisoner by the French in 1747 but was soon released on parole. Soon after his release, he married Caroline, Countess of Aylesberry, daughter of John Campbell and widow of Charles Bruce.

One of the many offices held by Henry Seymour Conway was Groom to the Bed Chambers of George II and George III. He also served on the privy council, which by the way has nothing to do with privies, was Secretary of State first in the north and then in the south and was Lt. General of Ordinance.

Perhaps the grandest office held by Conway, was his appointment in 1772 as the Governor of the Isle of Jersey. Jersey was important because of its proximity to France. It was repeatedly attacked and successfully defended by Conway through the system of fortifications that he designed. Field Marshal and Mrs. Conway did not actually visit Jersey for quite some time. They spent several years circulating among European society but eventually filled with ennui, they visited the Island.

Henry was quite taken by a stone circle, 65 feet in circumference that was discovered on Jersey during excavations for a new fortification. It was believed at that time to be a Druid altar. It was probably in reality a Celtic long barrow. Conway had the circle moved to his estate in England. One story says that the grateful people of Jersey presented it to him. Another version says that he took a fancy to it and stole it.

The Conway's home, Park Place, was a grand estate. Conway's cousin and friend, Horace Walpole described it as "one of the most charming spots in England." It had belonged to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and father of George III. As a companion piece to the stone circle, Field Marshall Conway built a ruined Greek amphitheater. Greek ruins were all the rage at this time and many grand estates had them constructed as garden ornaments. The Conways had one child, a daughter Anne, who was famous in her own right. She was married briefly to the son of Lord Milton, the poet. After his suicide, she became Anne Damer. A renowned artist, her sculptures, are still well known in the art world. She created busts of Napoleon, Nelson, and George III and her friezes decorate several bridges. She is buried at Sundridge with her chisel, mallet and apron beside her.

His marriage was described as "unalloyed happiness... here one of the bravest men in the world is the happiest by being with one of the most deserving of women." Conway developed a lavender farm at Park Place where he patented a distillery for producing lavender oil. One of his businesses was producing whiskey from potatoes. He wrote a treatise called Applying the Heat of Coke Ovens to the Generation of Steam, Baking Bread, etc. A short story, a play, several poems, and numerous pamphlets were published during his lifetime.

We have to remember that in the early 1790's America was a very different place. The colonists were English, there was no United States as we know it. Even during the Revolution, one out of five colonists was a loyalist. Most colonists were born in England and all were subject to the British Crown and the British Parliament. The cause of American independence was not popular in England. The king needed taxes levied in the Colonies, many of the raw materials that drove the English economy came from the New World, and many British merchants were growing rich from the colonies. England was trying to extend its empire. Henry Seymour Conway was a powerful and influential friend in Parliament.

In debates on the notorious Stamp Act, Conway spoke out on the American cause and by vigorous speeches secured its repeal. In all fairness, repeal probably would never been accomplished without the opposition of British merchants to the Act. As leader of the commons, Conway moved that the King be "urged to renounce further attempts to reduce America by force." So great was his influence and respect that the motion only lost by one vote. His efforts were so greatly appreciated in America, that the people of Boston raised money to have his portrait painted by Gainsborough and hung in Faneuil Hall. The portrait disappeared during the war years, believed stolen by a British Soldier.

Henry Conway's support of the American cause came at great personal cost. Because he voted against the King on several occasions, he was deprived of his Court and Army appointments. He was a man of great personal character and talent who used his wealth and power to further the cause of independence. We should be proud to honor him as an American patriot who wasn't American and never set foot on this continent.