George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex FSA (13 November 1757 – 23 April 1839) was an English aristocrat and politician, and styled Viscount Malden until 1799.

[5] An obituary of Essex in 1839 records that "his Lordship has richly embellished his house at Cassiobury, as well as his town mansion in Belgrave Square, with numerous choice works of our native painters", and that he had entertained a number of noted British artists of the day at Cassiobury and commissioned works from them, including J. M. W. Turner, Augustus Pugin, John Callcott Horsley, David Wilkie and Edwin Henry Landseer.

Sarah, a widow of Edward Stephenson, was the daughter of Henry William Bazett of Saint Helena and Clarissa Penelope Pritchard.

[1] Lord Essex died on 23 April 1839 at Cassiobury, aged 81, and was buried at Watford,[2] leaving behind his operatic widow, Kitty Stephens, who was now the Countess Dowager.

[12] The Earl erected a mural monument to Harriet in the Essex Chapel of St Mary's Church, Watford.