George Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan
Encyclopedia
George FitzRoy Henry Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan GBE
, CB
(18 September 1857 – 24 October 1921), styled The Honourable George Somerset until 1884, was a British soldier and Conservative
politician. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War
from 1900 to 1902 and was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
from 1902 to 1919.
, Somerset was the son of Richard Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan
, by his first wife Lady Georgina Lygon, third daughter of Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp
. He was a godchild of George V of Hanover
, Somerset became a Page of Honour
to Queen Victoria
in 1868, hich he remained until 1874. He was educated at Eton
and the Royal Military College Sandhurst
.
. He fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
, reaching the rank of Captain
. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War
un the Unionist Government headed by Lord Salisbury
from 1900 to 1902 and was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
from 1902 to 1919.
, on 28 February 1883. They had six children. He died in October 1921, aged 64, and was succeeded in the barony by his son, Fitzroy
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(18 September 1857 – 24 October 1921), styled The Honourable George Somerset until 1884, was a British soldier and 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. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
from 1900 to 1902 and was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
from 1902 to 1919.
Background and education
A member of the Somerset family headed by the Duke of BeaufortDuke of Beaufort
Duke of Beaufort is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the...
, Somerset was the son of Richard Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan
Richard Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan
Richard Henry FitzRoy Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan was a British peer.The second son of the 1st Baron Raglan, Somerset was born in Paris and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He came to Ceylon with Sir Colin Campbell as his Private Secretary and was subsequently taken into the Ceylon Civil Service...
, by his first wife Lady Georgina Lygon, third daughter of Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp
Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp
General Henry Beauchamp Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp DL , styled The Honourable from 1806 until 1853, was a British soldier and politician.-Background:...
. He was a godchild of George V of Hanover
George V of Hanover
George V was King of Hanover, the only child of Ernest Augustus I, and a grandchild of King George III of the United Kingdom. In the peerage of Great Britain, he was 2nd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, 2nd Earl of Armagh...
, Somerset became a Page of Honour
Page of Honour
While a page is a comparatively low-ranking servant, a Page of Honour is a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It requires attendance on state occasions, but does not now involve the daily duties which were once attached to the office of page...
to Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in 1868, hich he remained until 1874. 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 the Royal Military College Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
.
Military and political career
In 1870 Somerset joined the Grenadier GuardsGrenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
. He fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
, reaching the rank of Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
un the Unionist Government headed by Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
from 1900 to 1902 and was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
from 1902 to 1919.
Family
Lord Raglan married Lady Ethel Jemima Ponsonby, daughter of Walter Ponsonby, 7th Earl of BessboroughWalter Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough
Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough was a British peer and member of the House of Lords. He was the fifth son of John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough and his wife Lady Maria Fane...
, on 28 February 1883. They had six children. He died in October 1921, aged 64, and was succeeded in the barony by his son, Fitzroy
FitzRoy Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan
Major FitzRoy Richard Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan was a British soldier, beekeeper, farmer and independent scholar. He is best known for his book The Hero, where he systematises hero myths.- Life :...
.