Colonel Sibthorp
Encyclopedia
Charles de Laet Waldo Sibthorp (14 February 1783– 14 December 1855), popularly known as Colonel Sibthorp, was a widely caricatured British
Ultra-Tory
politician in the early 19th century. He sat as a Member of Parliament
for Lincoln from 1826 to 1855 (with one brief break).
Sibthorp was born into a Lincoln gentry
family, and was commissioned into the Scots Greys
in 1803. He was promoted Lieutenant
in 1806 and later transferred to the 4th Dragoon Guards, in which he reached the rank of Captain. He did not serve abroad and continued in the service until 1822, when he succeeded to the family estates and also succeeded his brother as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal South Lincolnshire Militia. He married Maria Tottenham in 1812; they had four children.
, he became renowned, along with Sir Robert Inglis
, as one of its most reactionary members. He stoutly opposed Catholic Emancipation
, the Reform Act of 1832
, the repeal of the Corn Laws
, and the 1851 Great Exhibition. He was convinced that any changes from the Britain of his youth (in the late 18th century) were signs of degeneracy, that Britain was about to go bankrupt, and that the new railways were a passing fad which would soon give way to a return to stagecoaches.
He was opposed to all foreign influences, and offended Queen Victoria with his public suspicions of Prince Albert
, the prince consort. His political views, his bluntness in expressing them, and his eccentricities made him the target of both witticisms and cartoons in Punch. The electors of Lincoln however, thought very highly of him. To them he was a man of honesty and independence and they returned him to Parliament on eight occasions.
Sibthorp died at his home in London
, and was succeeded as MP by his son, Gervaise.
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...
Ultra-Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician in the early 19th century. He sat 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 Lincoln from 1826 to 1855 (with one brief break).
Sibthorp was born into a Lincoln gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
family, and was commissioned into the Scots Greys
Scots Greys
The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ....
in 1803. He was promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1806 and later transferred to the 4th Dragoon Guards, in which he reached the rank of Captain. He did not serve abroad and continued in the service until 1822, when he succeeded to the family estates and also succeeded his brother as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal South Lincolnshire Militia. He married Maria Tottenham in 1812; they had four children.
Member of Parliament
During Sibthorp's three decades in ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, he became renowned, along with Sir Robert Inglis
Robert Inglis
Sir Robert Harry Inglis, 2nd Baronet FRS was an English Conservative politician, noted for his staunch High church views.He was the son of Sir Hugh Inglis, a minor politician and MP for Ashburton...
, as one of its most reactionary members. He stoutly opposed Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
, the Reform Act of 1832
Emancipation of the Jews in England
The Emancipation of the Jews in England was the culmination of efforts in the 19th century over several hundred years to loosen the legal restrictions set in place on England's Jewish population...
, the repeal of the Corn Laws
Corn Laws
The Corn Laws were trade barriers designed to protect cereal producers in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland against competition from less expensive foreign imports between 1815 and 1846. The barriers were introduced by the Importation Act 1815 and repealed by the Importation Act 1846...
, and the 1851 Great Exhibition. He was convinced that any changes from the Britain of his youth (in the late 18th century) were signs of degeneracy, that Britain was about to go bankrupt, and that the new railways were a passing fad which would soon give way to a return to stagecoaches.
He was opposed to all foreign influences, and offended Queen Victoria with his public suspicions of Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
, the prince consort. His political views, his bluntness in expressing them, and his eccentricities made him the target of both witticisms and cartoons in Punch. The electors of Lincoln however, thought very highly of him. To them he was a man of honesty and independence and they returned him to Parliament on eight occasions.
Sibthorp died at his home in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was succeeded as MP by his son, Gervaise.