Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete
Encyclopedia
Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete DL
, TD
(26 April 1861 – 8 February 1947) was initially a Liberal
and later a Conservative
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1922 when he was raised to the peerage
.
Mildmay was the son of Henry Bingham Mildmay and his wife, Georgiana Frances (née Bulteel). He was educated at Eton
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. He became a lieutenant in the West Kent Yeomanry cavalry and a partner in the firm of Baring Brothers.
At the 1885 general election
, Mildmay was elected Liberal
Member of Parliament (MP) for the Totnes division
of Devon
. He was one of the Liberal Unionist
s who combined to oppose the Home Rule Bill in 1885, and was returned in subsequent parliaments as a Liberal Unionist, and from 1912 as a Conservative. He held the seat for 37 years until he retired from the Commons at the 1922 general election
and was ennobled.
Mildmay saw service in the Second Boer War
in 1900 as a Major in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry
and also in World War I
between 1914 and 1918. At one stage he was divisional interpreter of General Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow
, who referred to him with affection and some wonderment at his tireless work and bravery in doing his duty at 2nd Ypres. Mildmay was often found to be carrying messages across the battlefield. Snow described him as a colourful and brave chap and recommended him for a medal more than once though he never got one apart from the Territorial Decoration
(TD).
Mildmay was created 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete
, on the 20th November 1922 and was a member of the Committee for Review of Political Honours Commission between 1923 and 1924. He was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Devon in 1928. He lived at Flete House
, a mansion near Plymouth
built by his father which remodelled and extended the original house of the Elizabethan era
. He was an extensive breeder and exhibitor of South Devon Cattle and was President of the Royal Agricultural Society
of England in 1932 and from 1941-43. He was a member and treasurer of the Medical Research Council
and a director of the Great Western Railway
.
, and a daughter.
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....
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(26 April 1861 – 8 February 1947) was initially a 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...
and later a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1922 when he was raised to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Mildmay was the son of Henry Bingham Mildmay and his wife, Georgiana Frances (née Bulteel). He was educated at Eton
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 Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He became a lieutenant in the West Kent Yeomanry cavalry and a partner in the firm of Baring Brothers.
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:...
, Mildmay was elected 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...
Member of Parliament (MP) for the Totnes division
Totnes (UK Parliament constituency)
Totnes is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system....
of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He was one of the Liberal Unionist
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
s who combined to oppose the Home Rule Bill in 1885, and was returned in subsequent parliaments as a Liberal Unionist, and from 1912 as a Conservative. He held the seat for 37 years until he retired from the Commons at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
and was ennobled.
Mildmay saw service in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in 1900 as a Major in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry
Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry
The Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry can trace its origins to 1794 when local volunteer troops were raised to assist the civil powers. Each Troop was about 50 strong with three officers , they were required to provide their own uniforms and mounts while the government would supply their arms and...
and also in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
between 1914 and 1918. At one stage he was divisional interpreter of General Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow
Thomas D'Oyly Snow
Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas D’Oyly Snow KCB, KCMG was a British General in the First World War who commanded during some of the major battles of the Western Front. He had two nicknames, ‘Slush’ and ‘Snowball’, both plays on 'Snow'.-Education and early military career:Snow was born on 5 May 1858...
, who referred to him with affection and some wonderment at his tireless work and bravery in doing his duty at 2nd Ypres. Mildmay was often found to be carrying messages across the battlefield. Snow described him as a colourful and brave chap and recommended him for a medal more than once though he never got one apart from the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(TD).
Mildmay was created 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete
Baron Mildmay of Flete
Baron Mildmay of Flete, of Totnes in the County of Devon, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 November 1922 for Francis Mildmay, for many years Member of Parliament for Totnes. He was the grandson of Humphrey St John-Mildmay, younger son of Sir Henry Paulet St...
, on the 20th November 1922 and was a member of the Committee for Review of Political Honours Commission between 1923 and 1924. He was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Devon in 1928. He lived at Flete House
Flete House
Flete House is a Grade I listed country house at Holbeton, in the South Hams district of Devon, England.Flete was a Saxon estate, the manor being held by the Damarell family from the reign of William I until the time of Edward III....
, a mansion near Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
built by his father which remodelled and extended the original house of the Elizabethan era
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
. He was an extensive breeder and exhibitor of South Devon Cattle and was President of the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
of England in 1932 and from 1941-43. He was a member and treasurer of the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
and a director of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
.
Family
Mildmay married Alice O. St. J. Grenfell, daughter of Charles Seymour Grenfell, in 1906. They had two children: a son, AnthonyAnthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete
Anthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete was an amateur steeplechaser who raced in the Grand National. He kindled the Queen Mother’s interest in National Hunt racing.-Birth, education and military service:...
, and a daughter.