Algernon West
Encyclopedia
The Rt Hon Sir Algernon Edward West GCB
(1832–1921) was Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Gladstone
.
He married Mary Elizabeth Caroline Barrington, daughter of Hon. George Barrington and Lady Caroline Grey, (daughter of Charles Grey. 2nd Earl Grey. Prime Minister), on 12 August 1858.
He was Private Secretary to Gladstone between 1861 and 1894. He held the office of Member of Parliament (MP). He held the office of Justice of the Peace (JP) for Middlesex. He held the office of Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue. He was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the Bath (KCB) on 30 July 1886. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (PC). He was invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (GCB) on 26 June 1902.
From 1880, he lived at the manor at Wanborough, Surrey
. West entertained many political figures at the manor including Gladstone
, Queen Victoria and Bismarck
.
West was also a director of the South Eastern Railway
and he caused a new station, named Wanborough but actually at Normandy
, to be opened in 1891. In 1900, Wanborough Manor was passed on to Asquith
until he became Prime Minister. In 1908, West returned to stay in the manor until his death in 1921.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1832–1921) was Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister 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...
.
Biography
He was the son of Martin John West and Lady Maria Walpole, daughter of the second Earl of Orford. His father was a cousin to Mr Pitt, through alliance with the Temple family, and his mother was a great grand daughter of Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime Minister.He married Mary Elizabeth Caroline Barrington, daughter of Hon. George Barrington and Lady Caroline Grey, (daughter of Charles Grey. 2nd Earl Grey. Prime Minister), on 12 August 1858.
He was Private Secretary to Gladstone between 1861 and 1894. He held the office of Member of Parliament (MP). He held the office of Justice of the Peace (JP) for Middlesex. He held the office of Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue. He was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the Bath (KCB) on 30 July 1886. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (PC). He was invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (GCB) on 26 June 1902.
From 1880, he lived at the manor at Wanborough, Surrey
Wanborough, Surrey
Wanborough is a small hamlet in Surrey approximately 6 km west of Guildford on the northern slopes of the Hog's Back. Neighbouring villages include: Puttenham and Christmas Pie...
. West entertained many political figures at the manor including 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...
, Queen Victoria and Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
.
West was also a director of the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
and he caused a new station, named Wanborough but actually at Normandy
Normandy, Surrey
Normandy is both the name of a civil parish in the borough of Guildford in Surrey, England and the name of the largest village in that parish. It lies close to the western edge of the county of Surrey close to the border with Hampshire and just north of the chalk hill known as the Hog's Back...
, to be opened in 1891. In 1900, Wanborough Manor was passed on to Asquith
Asquith
Asquith refers to:Persons of the Asquith family, descended from or related to H.H. Asquith, a British prime minister, later a peer:*Herbert Henry Asquith , Prime Minister of the United Kingdom...
until he became Prime Minister. In 1908, West returned to stay in the manor until his death in 1921.