Earl Grey (the tea is named after him) also had something to do with organising an emigration scheme to NZ in the 1840's. The emigrants were soldiers who, although still in the army, weren't on active duty - all were from England and Ireland. They signed up for seven years and were given land to farm, the only requirement was that that had to attend church parade every Sunday in uniform and be prepared to fight the Maori if the occasion arose. (It didn't). Families came too, and there were five settlements around the outskirts of Auckland. The men were called Fencibles; my great-great grandfather was one. It was awesome in Howick in NZ to see his photo prominently displayed in the recreated Fencible village.

Cheers
JennieG - also (as I have recently found out) with convict ancestry! Yay!