George Harrison (civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Sir George Harrison, FRS, GCH
(19 June 1767 – 3 February 1841) was an English
barrister
and civil servant. During a tenure of twenty-one years at the Treasury
, he presided over the growth of a professional civil service and an increasing transfer of power from political appointees to administrators.
in 1798, and was called to the bar in 1800. As the legal novelties of the redemption were worked out, his duties grew more routine, freeing him for promotion in 1805.
. The increasing business of the Treasury at the time necessitated the growth of a specialized bureaucracy, relatively independent of the constraints of patronage, and Harrison would oversee its growth during the 21 years he spent in the post.
Upon the death of Pitt in 1806 and the formation of the Ministry of All the Talents
, Harrison stood in some danger of losing his post at the Treasury. The Duke of Buckingham
attempted to secure it for William Henry Fremantle
, and Harrison was only protected by the firmness of Grenville. Harrison and the first secretary, Vansittart
were instrumental in the creation of Petty
's "New Plan of Finance", and for this and his assiduity in dischanging his duties, Harrison received a raise in pay from £2 000 p.a. to £2 500 in 1807.
. Harrison handled the financing of the Peninsular War
, became one of the two auditors of the treasury in 1807, and helped to reorganize the audit office. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 5 February 1807. His pay was raised again to £3 000 p.a. in 1809. With the accession of Liverpool
as Prime Minister in 1812, his old colleague Vanisttart became Chancellor of the Exchequer
, and Harrison's influence and responsibility at the Treasury reached their greatest heights. He acted as an adviser to the government in regard to the organization of the Treasury, and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his dealings with the Bank of England
and City
financial interests. He also played some role in aiding the first secretary, whose duties now principally concerned patronage
and politics. Harrison's extensive knowledge of the Treasury and talents for efficient administration were highly respected, and his salary raised to £3 500 p.a. in 1815.
Under his tenure, control of Treasury business largely passed into the hands of the bureaucrats and clerks of which he was chief. After 1809, the meetings of the Lords of the Treasury became largely pro forma, and the Prime Minister and Chancellor ceased to attend them in 1827.
In 1823, while still at the Treasury, Harrison had been appointed auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall
, and in 1826 became auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster
, posts which he held until his death. His "Substance of a Report on the Laws and Jurisdiction of the Stannaries in Cornwall" was published in 1835. It is possible that this work may have been drawn on in the legal proceedings which terminated in the passage of the Cornwall Submarine Mines Act of 1858.
He was made a KCH
in 1831, one of the first civil servants to receive knighthood.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(19 June 1767 – 3 February 1841) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and civil servant. During a tenure of twenty-one years at the Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
, he presided over the growth of a professional civil service and an increasing transfer of power from political appointees to administrators.
Biography
An able young lawyer, he entered government service as register and counsel to the committee for redemption of land tax, initiated by PittWilliam Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
in 1798, and was called to the bar in 1800. As the legal novelties of the redemption were worked out, his duties grew more routine, freeing him for promotion in 1805.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
In that year, Pitt appointed him to the newly-created post of Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. His duties there were both clerical and administrative, serving to reduce the routine work of the second secretaryFinancial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
. The increasing business of the Treasury at the time necessitated the growth of a specialized bureaucracy, relatively independent of the constraints of patronage, and Harrison would oversee its growth during the 21 years he spent in the post.
Upon the death of Pitt in 1806 and the formation of the Ministry of All the Talents
Ministry of All the Talents
The Ministry of All the Talents was a national unity government formed by William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 11 February 1806 after the death of William Pitt the Younger...
, Harrison stood in some danger of losing his post at the Treasury. The Duke of Buckingham
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos KG, PC , styled Earl Temple from 1784 to 1813 and known as The Marquess of Buckingham from 1813 to 1822, was a British landowner and politician.-Background:Born Richard Temple-Nugent-Grenville, he was the eldest son...
attempted to secure it for William Henry Fremantle
William Henry Fremantle
Sir William Henry Fremantle GCH, PC was a British courtier and politician. He served as Treasurer of the Household from 1826 to 1837.-Background:...
, and Harrison was only protected by the firmness of Grenville. Harrison and the first secretary, Vansittart
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley PC, FRS, FSA was an English politician, and one of the longest-serving Chancellors of the Exchequer in British history.-Background and education:...
were instrumental in the creation of Petty
Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne KG, PC, FRS , known as Lord Henry Petty from 1784 to 1809 and then as The Earl of Kerry to 1818, was a British statesman...
's "New Plan of Finance", and for this and his assiduity in dischanging his duties, Harrison received a raise in pay from £2 000 p.a. to £2 500 in 1807.
Auditor of the Treasury
Having survived the change of ministries in 1806, Harrison easily weathered the fall of the coalition, and became a trusted adviser to Spencer PercevalSpencer Perceval
Spencer Perceval, KC was a British statesman and First Lord of the Treasury, making him de facto Prime Minister. He is the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated...
. Harrison handled the financing of the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, became one of the two auditors of the treasury in 1807, and helped to reorganize the audit office. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 5 February 1807. His pay was raised again to £3 000 p.a. in 1809. With the accession of Liverpool
Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool KG PC was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the Union with Ireland in 1801. He was 42 years old when he became premier in 1812 which made him younger than all of his successors to date...
as Prime Minister in 1812, his old colleague Vanisttart became 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...
, and Harrison's influence and responsibility at the Treasury reached their greatest heights. He acted as an adviser to the government in regard to the organization of the Treasury, and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his dealings with the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
and City
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...
financial interests. He also played some role in aiding the first secretary, whose duties now principally concerned patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
and politics. Harrison's extensive knowledge of the Treasury and talents for efficient administration were highly respected, and his salary raised to £3 500 p.a. in 1815.
Under his tenure, control of Treasury business largely passed into the hands of the bureaucrats and clerks of which he was chief. After 1809, the meetings of the Lords of the Treasury became largely pro forma, and the Prime Minister and Chancellor ceased to attend them in 1827.
Auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall
In 1826, Harrison resigned the secretaryship (and auditorship), to be replaced as Assistant Secretary by his subordinate William Hill. His legacy at the Treasury was to have lain the foundations for the modern Civil Service.In 1823, while still at the Treasury, Harrison had been appointed auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
, and in 1826 became auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
, posts which he held until his death. His "Substance of a Report on the Laws and Jurisdiction of the Stannaries in Cornwall" was published in 1835. It is possible that this work may have been drawn on in the legal proceedings which terminated in the passage of the Cornwall Submarine Mines Act of 1858.
He was made a KCH
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
in 1831, one of the first civil servants to receive knighthood.