Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth
Encyclopedia
Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth KT
, PC (8 July 1849 – 15 September 1909) was a British Liberal Party
statesman who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 until 1894 when he inherited his peerage and then sat in the House of Lords
. He served in various capacities in the Liberal governments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
, and Isabella, daughter of Sir James Hogg, 1st Baronet. Ishbel Hamilton-Gordon, Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair
, was his sister. He is descended from Joseph Marjoribanks, a wine and fish merchant in Edinburgh who died in 1635 and is thought to have been the grandson of Thomas Marjoribanks of Ratho, head of the lowland clan Marjoribanks.
in 1880, a seat he held until 1894. He served under William Ewart Gladstone
as Comptroller of the Household
in between February and July 1886 and was sworn of the Privy Council the same year. When the Liberals returned to power under Gladstone in 1892, he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
(chief whip). He succeeded his father in the barony in March 1894, only a few days before Gladstone resigned and Lord Rosebery
became Prime Minister. Rosebery appointed Tweedmouth Lord Privy Seal
, with a seat in the cabinet, and in May 1894 he also became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
. He retained these posts until the government fell in 1895.
After ten years in opposition, the Liberals again came to power in December 1905 under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
, who appointed Tweedmouth First Lord of the Admiralty, with a seat in the cabinet. In early 1908 he was criticized for corresponding with German emperor William II on the British naval programme. The matter was referred to the House of Commons
. Chancellor of the Exchequer
H. H. Asquith
eventually stated that the correspondence was "a purely personal and private communication, conceived in an entirely friendly spirit" and no action was taken. However, when Asquith succeeded Campbell-Bannerman as Prime Minister in April 1908 Tweedmouth was removed as head of the Admiralty and became Lord President of the Council
He suffered a nervous breakdown in June 1908, a condition which was said to partly explain his indiscretion in communicating with the German Emperor on naval matters. Although his health later recovered, he resigned in October 1908. He was made a Knight of the Thistle
in 1908.
and aunt of Sir Winston Churchill
, in 1873. She died from cancer in August 1904, aged 51. Lord Tweedmouth survived her by five years and died in September 1909, aged 60. He was succeeded in the barony by his son, Dudley
.
located in the Collingsworth County, Texas
along with his fatherDudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth
and his brother-in-law John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair
.
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
, PC (8 July 1849 – 15 September 1909) was a British Liberal Party
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...
statesman who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 until 1894 when he inherited his peerage and then sat in the House of Lords
House 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 in various capacities in the Liberal governments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Background
Tweedmouth was the son of Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron TweedmouthDudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth
Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth was a Scottish businessman and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1853 until 1880, when he was elevated to thepeerage as Baron Tweedmouth...
, and Isabella, daughter of Sir James Hogg, 1st Baronet. Ishbel Hamilton-Gordon, Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair
Ishbel Hamilton-Gordon, Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair
Ishbel Maria Hamilton-Gordon, Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair, GBE was a Scottish author, philanthropist and an advocate of woman's interests.-Family:...
, was his sister. He is descended from Joseph Marjoribanks, a wine and fish merchant in Edinburgh who died in 1635 and is thought to have been the grandson of Thomas Marjoribanks of Ratho, head of the lowland clan Marjoribanks.
Political career
Tweedmouth was returned to Parliament for BerwickshireBerwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwickshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 to 1918, when it was amalgamated with neighbouring Haddington to form a new Berwick and Haddington constituency...
in 1880, a seat he held until 1894. 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 Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
in between February and July 1886 and was sworn of the Privy Council the same year. When the Liberals returned to power under Gladstone in 1892, he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is a junior ministerial position in the British Government. The holder is usually the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons. However, the office is no longer attached to the Treasury...
(chief whip). He succeeded his father in the barony in March 1894, only a few days before Gladstone resigned and Lord Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
became Prime Minister. Rosebery appointed Tweedmouth Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
, with a seat in the cabinet, and in May 1894 he also became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
. He retained these posts until the government fell in 1895.
After ten years in opposition, the Liberals again came to power in December 1905 under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
, who appointed Tweedmouth First Lord of the Admiralty, with a seat in the cabinet. In early 1908 he was criticized for corresponding with German emperor William II on the British naval programme. The matter was referred to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
eventually stated that the correspondence was "a purely personal and private communication, conceived in an entirely friendly spirit" and no action was taken. However, when Asquith succeeded Campbell-Bannerman as Prime Minister in April 1908 Tweedmouth was removed as head of the Admiralty and became Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
He suffered a nervous breakdown in June 1908, a condition which was said to partly explain his indiscretion in communicating with the German Emperor on naval matters. Although his health later recovered, he resigned in October 1908. He was made a Knight of the Thistle
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
in 1908.
Family
Lord Tweedmouth married Lady Fanny Octavia Louise, daughter of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough
John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC , styled Earl of Sunderland from 1822 to 1840 and Marquess of Blandford from 1840 to 1857, was a British statesman and nobleman...
and aunt of Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, in 1873. She died from cancer in August 1904, aged 51. Lord Tweedmouth survived her by five years and died in September 1909, aged 60. He was succeeded in the barony by his son, Dudley
Dudley Marjoribanks, 3rd Baron Tweedmouth
Dudley Churchill Marjoribanks, 3rd Baron Tweedmouth was the son of Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth and Fanny Spencer-Churchill. He served in the Boer War, was Lieutenant-colonel and Lord-in-waiting to George V and Edward VII...
.
The Rocking Chair Ranche
From 1883 until 1896, he was an owner of and investor in Rocking Chair RancheRocking Chair Ranche
The Rocking Chair Ranche was a ranch located at North Elm Creek in Collingsworth County, Texas from 1883 until October 11, 1896.The Rocking Chair Ranche was bought by Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth in 1883...
located in the Collingsworth County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
along with his fatherDudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth
Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth
Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth was a Scottish businessman and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1853 until 1880, when he was elevated to thepeerage as Baron Tweedmouth...
and his brother-in-law John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair
John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair
John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC , known as The Earl of Aberdeen from 1870 to 1916, was a Scottish politician...
.