George William Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry (16 October 1784 – 15 May 1843), styled Viscount Deerhurst from 1809 to 1831, was a British peer and Tory Member of Parliament.
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Early life
Coventry was the eldest son of George Coventry, 7th Earl of Coventry, and his wife Peggy (née Pitches). His younger brother was the Hon. William Coventry and his sisters were Lady Augusta Coventry (wife of Gen. Sir Willoughby Cotton), Lady Barbara Coventry (wife of Lt. Col. Alexander Gregan-Crauford) and Lady Sophia Coventry (wife of Sir Roger Gresley, 3rd Bt and Sir William Des Voeux, 3rd Bt).
His paternal grandparents were George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry and the former Maria Gunning (eldest daughter of Col. John Gunning of Castle Combe and Hon Bridget Bourke, a daughter of Theobald Bourke, 6th Viscount Mayo). His mother was the second daughter and co-heiress of Sir Abraham Pitches, former High Sheriff of Surrey, and Jane Hassel (daughter of Robert Prowse Hassel of Wraytesbury).
He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.
Career
On 10 November 1806 (as the Hon George Coventry) he was appointed by his grandfather the 6th Earl (the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire) as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Worcestershire Militia, then carrying out home defence duties. He continued in this role until 21 December 1838, when he was promoted to Colonel of the regiment.