Charles Magniac
Encyclopedia
Charles Magniac was a British
financier and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1868 and 1886.
He was the eldest son of Hollingworth Magniac
of Colworth, Bedfordshire
. Following education at Eton College
and the University of Cambridge
, he worked in finance in the City of London
, becoming a partner in Matheson and Company
of Lombard Street
. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant
for the City, and was the first president of the London Chamber of Commerce.
In 1857 he married Augusta Dawson (?–24 February 1903, née, FitzPatrick), daughter of Baron Castletown
, and widow of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Vesey Dawson, who died in action at the Battle of Inkerman
in 1854.
Magniac was deeply interested in agriculture, and was a breeder of shorthorn
cattle and carthorses.
Politically, Magniac was a committed Liberal, and was elected as a member of parliament
for the party on a number of occasions. He was first elected as an MP in 1868
, representing St Ives
, Cornwall
. He held the seat until 1874. He returned to the House of Commons in 1880
, as one of two MPs for the Borough of Bedford
. In 1885
the constituency's representation was reduced to one member, and Magniac was selected as Liberal candidate for the new Northern or Biggleswade Division
of Bedfordshire. He was elected at the 1885 general election
, but was defeated in the following election in 1886
. He was chosen as Liberal candidate for the next general election, but died before it took place.
In about 1869 Magniac purchased Chesterfield House
the great Mayfair townhouse
built 1747-52 by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
, which had been threatened with demolition. Magniac died suddenly at his London residence in November 1891. At the time of his death he was chairman of Bedfordshire County Council
, as well as a justice of the peace
and deputy lieutenant for the county.
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...
financier 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...
politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1868 and 1886.
He was the eldest son of Hollingworth Magniac
Hollingworth Magniac
Hollingworth Magniac was a merchant and connoisseur of medieval art. He was instrumental in the formation of Jardine Matheson, and Company, one of the largest trading houses in Asia during the 19th century.-Biography:...
of Colworth, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. Following education at Eton College
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 the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, he worked in finance in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, becoming a partner in Matheson and Company
Jardine Matheson Holdings
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited often referred to as Jardines, is a multinational corporation incorporated in Bermuda and based in Hong Kong. While listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange, the vast majority of Jardines shares are traded in Singapore...
of Lombard Street
Lombard Street
There are several famous Lombard Streets:* Lombard Street , famed for its twists and turns* Lombard Street, London, leading from the Bank of England to Gracechurch Street...
. He was appointed a 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 the City, and was the first president of the London Chamber of Commerce.
In 1857 he married Augusta Dawson (?–24 February 1903, née, FitzPatrick), daughter of Baron Castletown
John FitzPatrick, 1st Baron Castletown
John Wilson FitzPatrick, 1st Baron Castletown PC , known as John Wilson until 1842, was an Irish Liberal politician....
, and widow of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Vesey Dawson, who died in action at the Battle of Inkerman
Battle of Inkerman
The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on November 5, 1854 between the allied armies of Britain and France against the Imperial Russian Army. The battle broke the will of the Russian Army to defeat the allies in the field, and was followed by the Siege of Sevastopol...
in 1854.
Magniac was deeply interested in agriculture, and was a breeder of shorthorn
Shorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however there were always certain blood lines within the breed which emphasised one quality or the other...
cattle and carthorses.
Politically, Magniac was a committed Liberal, and was elected as a member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the party on a number of occasions. He was first elected as an MP in 1868
United Kingdom general election, 1868
The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
, representing St Ives
St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)
St. Ives is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. He held the seat until 1874. He returned to the House of Commons in 1880
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, as one of two MPs for the Borough of Bedford
Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)
Bedford is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The seat was established in its current form in 1997, restoring a centuries old name. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election...
. In 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
the constituency's representation was reduced to one member, and Magniac was selected as Liberal candidate for the new Northern or Biggleswade Division
Biggleswade (UK Parliament constituency)
Biggleswade was a county constituency in Bedfordshire which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until its abolition in 1918...
of Bedfordshire. He was elected at the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, but was defeated in the following election in 1886
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
. He was chosen as Liberal candidate for the next general election, but died before it took place.
In about 1869 Magniac purchased Chesterfield House
Chesterfield House, Westminster
Chesterfield House was a grand London townhouse built between 1747-52 by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, statesman and man of letters. The exterior was in the Palladian style, the interior Baroque. It was demolished in 1937 and on its site now stands an eponymous block of flats...
the great Mayfair townhouse
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
built 1747-52 by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield PC KG was a British statesman and man of letters.A Whig, Lord Stanhope, as he was known until his father's death in 1726, was born in London. After being educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he went on the Grand Tour of the continent...
, which had been threatened with demolition. Magniac died suddenly at his London residence in November 1891. At the time of his death he was chairman of Bedfordshire County Council
Bedfordshire County Council
Bedfordshire County Council was the county council of the non-metropolitan county of Bedfordshire in England. It was established in 1889 and was abolished on 1 April 2009. The county council was based in Bedford. It was replaced with three unitary authorities: Bedford Borough Council, Central...
, as well as 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 for the county.