author
Baron George Agar Ellis Dover
1797–1833
A lively figure in early 19th-century British cultural life, this politician and writer moved easily between Parliament and the world of books, art, and history. His short career left a mark on institutions like the British Museum and the National Gallery.
1 Audiobook
The True History of the State Prisoner, commonly called the Iron Mask Extracted from Documents in the French Archives
by Baron George Agar Ellis Dover
About the author
Born on January 14, 1797, George James Welbore Agar-Ellis became the 1st Baron Dover and built a reputation as both a Whig politician and a man of letters. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, served in Parliament for several constituencies, and briefly held office as First Commissioner of Woods and Forests under Earl Grey.
He is especially remembered for his interest in literature, history, and the arts. Alongside his political work, he wrote historical studies and biographies, and he supported major cultural institutions of his day, serving as a trustee of the British Museum and the National Gallery. In 1832, he also became president of the Royal Society of Literature.
Dover died on July 10, 1833, at just 36 years old. Even with such a short life, he stands out as one of those public figures whose influence came not only from politics, but from a genuine commitment to preserving and promoting literary and artistic culture.