1757-1839. George Capel  adopted the additional name Coningsby upon inheriting the estate of his great-aunt Countess of Coningsby. His estate was at Cassiobury, near Watford.. 

• 1757: 13 November, born (Viscount Malden)
• Father: William-Anne Capel, 4th Earl of Essex;  Mother: Honorable Frances Williams
• Married twice:

• Sarah Bazett, widow of Edward Stephenson and daughter of Henry Bazett, of St Helena. 6 June 1786. An unhappy marriage without children. They had been estranged for some time when she died on 16 January 1838.
• Within three months, on 14 April 1838, he married Catherine Kitty Stephens, daughter of Edward Stephens of Leadwell, Oxfordshire, a famous actress and singer. He was aged 80, his wife 44.  Miss Stephens, a famous singer. They were married by special licence at the Earl's house in Belgrave Square, London, and honeymooned at Cassiobury. Kitty had her first appearance in 1813, at the age of 19, at Covent Garden.  She became the subject of some scandal because of the marriage. She died on 22 Feb 1882, aged 87.

• 1806: Illegitimate daughter Harriet born. She married Richard Ford in 1824 and died on 14 May 1837.
• 1802–17: Lord Lieutenant Herefordshire
• Essex died a year later at Cassiobury on 23 April 1839
• DCL, FSA, Recorder and High Steward Leominster
• The peerage passed to the Earl's nephew, Arthur Algernon Capel.

Politically Essex was a Northite and Portland Whig. He was a close friend of Carrington and a permanent supporter of the Grenvillites. A member of Brooks's Club.