John Conroy

Sir John Conroy Bt KCH
Born	(1786-10-21)21 October 1786 Caerhun, Caernarfonshire
Died	2 March 1854(1854-03-02) (aged 67) Arborfield Hall, Berkshire
Known for	Chief attendant of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn; comptroller to the early household of Queen Victoria
Spouse	Elizabeth Fisher ​ (m. 1808)​
Children	6, including Victoire
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army British Militia
Rank	Second Captain (British Army) Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant (Militia)
Unit	Royal Artillery Royal Montgomeryshire Militia
Battles / wars	Napoleonic Wars

Sir John Ponsonby Conroy, 1st Baronet, KCH (21 October 1786 – 2 March 1854) was a British military officer best known for serving as comptroller to the Duchess of Kent and her young daughter, the future Queen Victoria. Born in Wales to Irish parents, he was educated in Dublin before being commissioned into the British Army's Royal Artillery in 1803, managing to avoid active service during the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1817, he became the equerry of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn. The Duke died two years later, leaving a widow and infant daughter. Holding the position of comptroller of the Duchess of Kent's household for the next nineteen years, Conroy also acted as her confidant and political agent, among other roles. Together, they designed the Kensington System, an elaborate and strict system of rules for Victoria's upbringing designed to render her weak-willed and utterly dependent upon them in the hope of allowing them one day to wield power through her.

Victoria grew to hate Conroy, thanks to the oppressive system, and he was also unpopular among the rest of the British royal family. His efforts to place the Duchess in the role of regent were ultimately unsuccessful, as Victoria ascended the throne after reaching her majority in 1837. Conroy was immediately expelled from Victoria's household, though he remained in the Duchess of Kent's service for several more years. Given a pension and a baronetcy, Conroy retired to his estate near Reading, Berkshire, in 1842 and died heavily in debt twelve years later.

Historians have often referred to Conroy as someone with strong ambition, giving disparate assessments of his personal character and actiosn. Rumours circulated during and after his lifetime that he was possible the Duchess of Kent's lover. Victoria insisted this was not possible, arguing that her mother's piety would have forbidden it.