Alexander Milne (civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Milne was a British
civil servant who worked as a Commissioner of Woods and Forests for many years.
Milne first became a commissioner on 14 August 1834 when William IV
appointed him a "Commissioner of His Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, and Buildings". The Commission was a three-man body which managed the public and commercial functions of Crown land
in Britain. The Commission was composed of a First Commissioner, who headed the body, and two co-commissioners. Throughout his career with the commission, which ran from 1834 until his death in 1850, Milne served as a co-commissioner. On his first commission Milne worked with Sir John Hobhouse
, the First Commissioner, and Sir Benjamin Charles Stephenson. Milne was reappointed to the commission, which had changed its remit to "Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Public Buildings", by the King on 23 December 1834. Stephenson remained on the commission but Lord Granville Somerset
was appointed as the new First Commissioner.
Milne and Stephenson reappointed once more on 28 April 1835, with Viscount Duncannon
serving as First Commissioner. This composition was retained until 14 June 1839 when Charles Alexander Gore was appointed by Queen Victoria
to replace Stephenson. The Commission's title was changed to the "Commission of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings", the last time it would change during Milne's life. Milne and Gore were reappointed on 16 September 1841 with the Earl of Lincoln replacing Duncannon at the head. Milne and Gore were once again reappointed on 2 March 1846 with Viscount Canning
as First Commissioner. Milne was appointed to the Commission for the last time on 7 July 1846, with Gore returning as a co-commissioner and Viscount Morpeth as First Commissioner.
Milne died in 1850, having served on the Commission for 16 consecutive years of its 41 year existence. Milne served with six different First Commissioners and just two separate co-commissioners. His replacement on the commission was Thomas Francis Kennedy who was appointed on 28 August 1850.
Milne was appointed to be a member of the Improvement of the Metropolis Commission on 30 November 1842. This commission, whose members did not receive a salary, sat from 1842 to 1851 and was tasked with "enquiring into and considering the most effectual means of improving the metropolis, and of providing increased facilities of communication within the same". The commission was composed of some of the leading architects and politicians of the time. Milne sat on the commission alongside the Earl of Lincoln and Gore as well as Lord Lyttelton
, Lord Colborne
, James Charles Herries, Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon
, Henry Thomas Hope
, Henry Gally Knight
, Robert Smirke
and Charles Barry
.
On 27 April 1848 Milne was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Civil Division) for his work as a commissioner of woods and forests. He was a friend of Charles Babbage
and William Huskisson
and some of his correspondence with those men, and others, is held by The National Archives. He was also close to the architect and civil engineer Thomas Telford
and, along with John Dickinson
("of the House of Commons"), served as executor of his last will and testament after his death in 1834.
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...
civil servant who worked as a Commissioner of Woods and Forests for many years.
Milne first became a commissioner on 14 August 1834 when William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
appointed him a "Commissioner of His Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, and Buildings". The Commission was a three-man body which managed the public and commercial functions of Crown land
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
in Britain. The Commission was composed of a First Commissioner, who headed the body, and two co-commissioners. Throughout his career with the commission, which ran from 1834 until his death in 1850, Milne served as a co-commissioner. On his first commission Milne worked with Sir John Hobhouse
John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton
John Cam Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton GCB, PC, FRS , known as Sir John Hobhouse, Bt, from 1831 to 1851, was a British politician and memoirist.-Background and education:...
, the First Commissioner, and Sir Benjamin Charles Stephenson. Milne was reappointed to the commission, which had changed its remit to "Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Public Buildings", by the King on 23 December 1834. Stephenson remained on the commission but Lord Granville Somerset
Lord Granville Somerset
Lord Granville Charles Henry Somerset PC was a British Tory politician. He held office under Sir Robert Peel as First Commissioner of Woods and Forests between 1834 and 1835 and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 1841 and 1846.-Background and education:Somerset was the second son of...
was appointed as the new First Commissioner.
Milne and Stephenson reappointed once more on 28 April 1835, with Viscount Duncannon
John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough
John William Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough PC , known as Viscount Duncannon from 1793 to 1844, was a British Whig politician...
serving as First Commissioner. This composition was retained until 14 June 1839 when Charles Alexander Gore was appointed by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
to replace Stephenson. The Commission's title was changed to the "Commission of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings", the last time it would change during Milne's life. Milne and Gore were reappointed on 16 September 1841 with the Earl of Lincoln replacing Duncannon at the head. Milne and Gore were once again reappointed on 2 March 1846 with Viscount Canning
Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning
Charles John Canning, 1st Earl Canning KG, GCB, PC , known as The Viscount Canning from 1837 to 1859, was an English statesman and Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.-Background and education:...
as First Commissioner. Milne was appointed to the Commission for the last time on 7 July 1846, with Gore returning as a co-commissioner and Viscount Morpeth as First Commissioner.
Milne died in 1850, having served on the Commission for 16 consecutive years of its 41 year existence. Milne served with six different First Commissioners and just two separate co-commissioners. His replacement on the commission was Thomas Francis Kennedy who was appointed on 28 August 1850.
Milne was appointed to be a member of the Improvement of the Metropolis Commission on 30 November 1842. This commission, whose members did not receive a salary, sat from 1842 to 1851 and was tasked with "enquiring into and considering the most effectual means of improving the metropolis, and of providing increased facilities of communication within the same". The commission was composed of some of the leading architects and politicians of the time. Milne sat on the commission alongside the Earl of Lincoln and Gore as well as Lord Lyttelton
George Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton
George William Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton , was a British aristocrat and Conservative politician.-Early life:...
, Lord Colborne
Nicholas Ridley-Colborne, 1st Baron Colborne
Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne, 1st Baron Colborne was a British politician.-Background:Born Nicholas Ridley, he was the younger son of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet, and Mary , daughter of Benjamin Colborne...
, James Charles Herries, Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon
Charles Lemon
Sir Charles Lemon, 2nd Baronet Lemon of Carclew was a British Member of Parliament for several constituencies and a baronet.-Service in Parliament:...
, Henry Thomas Hope
Henry Thomas Hope
Henry Thomas Hope was a British MP and patron of the arts.-Biography:He was the eldest of Thomas Hope and Louisa de la Poer Beresford's three sons, but was estranged from his brothers when he inherited their father's art collections, wealth and property along with...
, Henry Gally Knight
Henry Gally Knight
Henry Gally Knight, FRS was an English M.P., traveller and writer.Henry Gally Knight was a country gentleman of Yorkshire, educated at Eton and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was the author of several Oriental tales, Ilderim, a Syrian Tale , Phrosyne, a Grecian Tale, and Alashtar, an Arabian Tale...
, Robert Smirke
Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect, one of the leaders of Greek Revival architecture his best known building in that style is the British Museum, though he also designed using other architectural styles...
and Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
.
On 27 April 1848 Milne was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Civil Division) for his work as a commissioner of woods and forests. He was a friend of Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage, FRS was an English mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a programmable computer...
and William Huskisson
William Huskisson
William Huskisson PC was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Liverpool...
and some of his correspondence with those men, and others, is held by The National Archives. He was also close to the architect and civil engineer Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
and, along with John Dickinson
John Dickinson
John Dickinson may refer to:* John Dickinson , lawyer, Governor of Delaware and Pennsylvania, signer of U.S. Constitution, and namesake of Dickinson College* John D. Dickinson , lawyer and U.S...
("of the House of Commons"), served as executor of his last will and testament after his death in 1834.