Albert Parker, 3rd Earl of Morley
Encyclopedia
Albert Edmund Parker, 3rd Earl of Morley PC, DL
, JP
(11 June 1843 - 26 February 1905), styled Viscount Boringdon until 1864, was a British
peer and Liberal
, later Liberal Unionist
politician.
, and Harriet Sophia (née Parker). He was educated at Eton
and Balliol College, Oxford
.
. He served under William Ewart Gladstone
as a Lord-in-Waiting
from 1868 to 1874 and as Under-Secretary of State for War
from 1880 to 1885. In February 1886 he was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed First Commissioner of Works
, a position he only held until April of the same year. He broke with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule and joined the Liberal Unionists
. From 1889 to 1905 Morley was Chairman of committees and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.
Apart from his career in national politics Morley was Chairman of Devon County Council
and a Justice of the Peace
and Deputy Lieutenant
for Devon
. He also served as President of the first day of the 1886 Co-operative Congress
.
, in 1876. They had three sons and a daughter. He died in February 1905, aged 61, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Edmund. Lady Morley died in 1908.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(11 June 1843 - 26 February 1905), styled Viscount Boringdon until 1864, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, later Liberal Unionist
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
politician.
Background and education
Morley was the son of Edmund Parker, 2nd Earl of MorleyEdmund Parker, 2nd Earl of Morley
Edmund Parker, 2nd Earl of Morley , known as Viscount Boringdon from 1815 to 1840, was a British peer and Whig politician....
, and Harriet Sophia (née Parker). He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
Political career
Morley succeeded his father as third Earl of Morley in 1864 and took his seat on the Liberal benches in the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He served under William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
as a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
from 1868 to 1874 and as Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
from 1880 to 1885. In February 1886 he was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed First Commissioner of Works
First Commissioner of Works
The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public...
, a position he only held until April of the same year. He broke with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule and joined the Liberal Unionists
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
. From 1889 to 1905 Morley was Chairman of committees and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.
Apart from his career in national politics Morley was Chairman of Devon County Council
Devon County Council
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon...
and a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He also served as President of the first day of the 1886 Co-operative Congress
Co-operative Congress
The Co-operative Congress is the national conference of the UK Co-operative Movement. The first of the modern congresses took place in 1869 following a series of meetings called the "Owenite Congress" in the 1830s...
.
Family
Lord Morley married Margaret Holford, eldest daughter of Robert Stayner HolfordRobert Stayner Holford
Robert Stayner Holford , of Westonbirt, in the village of Weston Birt, co. Gloucestershire, MP for East Gloucestershire, was a wealthy landowner, gardening and landscaping enthusiast, and an art collector...
, in 1876. They had three sons and a daughter. He died in February 1905, aged 61, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Edmund. Lady Morley died in 1908.