The British Prime Minister who gave his name to a New Hampshire county

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1769, a British Prime Minister who supported American causes in Parliament was honored with a namesake county in the rugged wilderness of New Hampshire. This geographical legacy sits in a land of glacial potholes, deep gorges, and a history that stretches from the colonial frontier to the halls of the Supreme Court.

Grafton County was established in 1769 as one of the original five counties of New Hampshire. It was named in honor of Augustus Henry Fitzroy, the 3rd Duke of Grafton. At the time of the county's creation, Fitzroy was serving as the British Prime Minister. Notably, he was recognized as a supporter of American causes within the British Parliament, a distinction that underscores the complex political landscape of the era leading up to the American Revolution.

The county's early boundaries were significantly more expansive than they are today. In 1771, when it was organized at Haverhill, Grafton included the entire northern frontier of New Hampshire. This territory eventually included several towns that are now part of the state of Vermont. It wasn't until 1803 that the northern area was removed to facilitate the formation of Coos County. By 1797, the county had already established a distinct identity with 50 townships and a population of 23,093.

Geographically, the county is defined by its mountainous terrain, housing a large portion of the White Mountain National Forest. It features prominent landmarks like Franconia Notch—an 8-mile mountain pass containing the Flume gorge—and the Basin, a giant glacial pothole. While the region is known for its natural beauty, it also holds significant intellectual and cultural weight, serving as the home of Dartmouth College, which famously defended its charter before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1819.

Today, Grafton remains a predominantly rural area, with approximately 65.7% of its residents living in rural settings. The economy has shifted from its early frontier roots to a mix of tourism, plastic manufacturing, and industrial machinery. Despite these changes, the county retains its historical character, from the ruins of the Lower Shaker Village, which flourished from 1793 to 1923, to the enduring legacy of the Coosuc, the local Abenaki Indian tribe.

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