Born Charles Sackville, he was the eldest son of Lord George Sackville. His father changed the family surname to Germain in 1770 and was created Viscount Sackville in 1782. Dorset re-incorporated the former surname as a double-barrelled one later in life.
Career
Germain succeeded his father in the viscountcy in 1785, inheriting Drayton House. In 1815 he also succeeded his cousin in the dukedom of Dorset. In 1821 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Master of the Horse under Lord Liverpool. Serving in that office until 1827 and again briefly under Sir Robert Peel from January to April 1835, he was also appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1826.
Death and memorial
Dorset died unmarried and childless in 1843 and his titles, a viscountcy and dukedom, became extinct. His memorial is in St Peter's Church, Lowick, Northamptonshire — a black lettering-etched white marble chest-tomb by Richard Westmacott, large draped mantle, coronet on cushion with a human-size angel seated alongside, its only coloured feature is its shield.
Estates
Charles had succeeded in 1785 to the vast bulk of the parish of Lowick, including the grand 13th-century-core Drayton House, replete with three towering eagles on top of its bulky gate posts. Drayton had come into the family from Sir John Germain, 1st Baronet, who died without issue in 1718, leaving it to his wife Elizabeth Germain. On her death in 1769 Charles' father, Lord George Sackville, inherited the estate. He took her surname by Act of Parliament of 1770 and was seised of the additional manor of Lowick and right to nominate the parish priest at the inclosure of the parish in 1771, when about were wholly privatized to him. Charles was also dealing with five Northamptonshire manors by recovery in 1788 and 1791. He or his predecessor in the dukedom had in addition bought more modest nearby Pyels manor, Woodford, Northamptonshire between 1800 and 1843. On his death in 1843, all the estates passed to his niece Mrs. Caroline Harriet Stopford Sackville and had descended by 1930 into the hands of Nigel Victor Stopford Sackville, the only surviving son of her second son.
