Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
Encyclopedia
Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, PC, DL
, FSA
, FRS
(24 June 1831 – 29 June 1890), known as Lord Porchester from 1833 to 1849, was a British politician and a leading member of the Conservative Party
. He was twice Secretary of State for the Colonies
and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
.
, London
, Carnarvon was the eldest son of Henry Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon
, by his wife Henrietta Anna, daughter of Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard
. The Hon. Auberon Herbert
was his younger brother. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
. In 1849 he succeeded his father in the earldom. His nickname was "Twitters", apparently on account of his twitchy behaviour.
as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
from 1858 to 1859. In 1866 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies
by Derby. In 1867 he introduced the British North America Act, which conferred self-government on Canada
, and effectively created a confederation. Later that year, he resigned over Benjamin Disraeli's Reform Bill
, along with Lord Cranborne
and Jonathan Peel
.
Returning to the office of the British colonial secretary in 1874, he submitted a set of proposals, known by his name, the carnarvon terms
that were a set of proposals in 1874 dictated by the British colonial secretary to settle the dispute between British Columbia and Canada over the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the Vancouver Island railroad and train bridge. Vancouver Island had been promised a rail link as a precondition of its entry into British North America confederation.
In 1874, managing the empire the sun never set on, he endeavoured to impose a confederation on South Africa
as he had on Canada, but the times were not ripe and his confederation scheme collapsed leaving a trail of wars across southern Africa. He addressed the concept of Imperialism in Africa many times while holding the title. In 1878 he resigned in opposition to Disraeli's policy on the Eastern Question
; but on his party's return to power in 1885 he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. His short period of office, memorable for a conflict on a question of personal veracity between himself and Charles Stewart Parnell
as to his negotiations with the latter in respect of Home Rule
, was terminated by another premature resignation. He never returned to office.
between 1887 and 1890 and Deputy Lieutenant
of Nottinghamshire
. He was regarded as a highly cultured man and was a president and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
and a Fellow of the Royal Society
as well as was high steward of Oxford University. He was also a prominent freemason
, having been initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge, and with his permission a number of subsequently founded lodges
bore his name in their titles.
, in 1861. They had one son and three daughters. After her death in 1875 he married secondly his first cousin Elizabeth Catherine, daughter of Henry Howard
, in 1878. They had two sons, of whom the eldest was the Hon. Aubrey Herbert
and the youngest George
. His eldest daughter Lady Winifred married as her second husband Lord Burghclere
and was the mother of the Hon. Evelyn, first wife of the novelist Evelyn Waugh
. Carnarvon's son Aubrey was the father of Laura Herbert, who was the second wife of Evelyn Waugh. Lord Carnarvon died at Portman Square
, London
, in June 1890, aged 59. His second wife survived him by almost forty years and died in February 1929, aged 72.
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....
, FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(24 June 1831 – 29 June 1890), known as Lord Porchester from 1833 to 1849, was a British politician and a leading member of the Conservative Party
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...
. He was twice Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Background and education
Born at Grosvenor SquareGrosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square is a large garden square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London, England. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from their surname, "Grosvenor".-History:...
, 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...
, Carnarvon was the eldest son of Henry Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon
Henry John George Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon FRS , known as Lord Porchester from 1811 to 1833, was a British writer, traveller and politician....
, by his wife Henrietta Anna, daughter of Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard
Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard
Lord Henry Thomas Howard-Molyneux-Howard , known as Henry Thomas Howard until 1812 and Henry Thomas Molyneux-Howard until 1817, was a British gentleman who served as Deputy Earl Marshal in the latter part of the reign of George III and early in the reign of George IV.Howard was the son of Henry...
. The Hon. Auberon Herbert
Auberon Herbert
Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert was a writer, theorist, philosopher, and "19th-century individualist anarchist." A member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Herbert was the son of the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon, brother of Henry Herbert, the 4th Earl, and father of the 9th Baron Lucas...
was his younger brother. 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 Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. In 1849 he succeeded his father in the earldom. His nickname was "Twitters", apparently on account of his twitchy behaviour.
Political career
Carnarvon served under Lord DerbyEdward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and, from 1948, also to a Minister of State....
from 1858 to 1859. In 1866 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
by Derby. In 1867 he introduced the British North America Act, which conferred self-government on Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and effectively created a confederation. Later that year, he resigned over Benjamin Disraeli's Reform Bill
Reform Act 1867
The Representation of the People Act 1867, 30 & 31 Vict. c. 102 was a piece of British legislation that enfranchised the urban male working class in England and Wales....
, along with Lord Cranborne
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...
and Jonathan Peel
Jonathan Peel
Jonathan Peel was a British soldier, Conservative politician and racehorse owner.-Background and education:...
.
Returning to the office of the British colonial secretary in 1874, he submitted a set of proposals, known by his name, the carnarvon terms
Carnarvon terms
The Carnarvon Terms were a set of proposals ordered by the British colonial secretary Lord Carnarvon in 1874 to settle the dispute between British Columbia and Canada over the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the Vancouver Island railroad and train bridge...
that were a set of proposals in 1874 dictated by the British colonial secretary to settle the dispute between British Columbia and Canada over the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the Vancouver Island railroad and train bridge. Vancouver Island had been promised a rail link as a precondition of its entry into British North America confederation.
In 1874, managing the empire the sun never set on, he endeavoured to impose a confederation on South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
as he had on Canada, but the times were not ripe and his confederation scheme collapsed leaving a trail of wars across southern Africa. He addressed the concept of Imperialism in Africa many times while holding the title. In 1878 he resigned in opposition to Disraeli's policy on the Eastern Question
Eastern Question
The "Eastern Question", in European history, encompasses the diplomatic and political problems posed by the decay of the Ottoman Empire. The expression does not apply to any one particular problem, but instead includes a variety of issues raised during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, including...
; but on his party's return to power in 1885 he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. His short period of office, memorable for a conflict on a question of personal veracity between himself and Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
as to his negotiations with the latter in respect of Home Rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
, was terminated by another premature resignation. He never returned to office.
Other public appointments
Carnarvon also held the honorary posts of Lord Lieutenant of HampshireLord Lieutenant of Hampshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. Since 1688, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Hampshire.*William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester 1551–?*William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester bef...
between 1887 and 1890 and Deputy Lieutenant
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....
of Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. He was regarded as a highly cultured man and was a president and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
and a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
as well as was high steward of Oxford University. He was also a prominent freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, having been initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge, and with his permission a number of subsequently founded lodges
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
bore his name in their titles.
Family
Lord Carnarvon married firstly Lady Evelyn, daughter of George Stanhope, 6th Earl of ChesterfieldGeorge Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield
George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield PC , styled Lord Stanhope until 1815, was a British Tory politician, courtier and race horse owner...
, in 1861. They had one son and three daughters. After her death in 1875 he married secondly his first cousin Elizabeth Catherine, daughter of Henry Howard
Henry Howard (1802-1875)
Henry Howard was a British Member of Parliament, the eldest son of Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard.Howard inherited Greystoke Castle from his father in 1824...
, in 1878. They had two sons, of whom the eldest was the Hon. Aubrey Herbert
Aubrey Herbert
Aubrey Nigel Henry Molyneux Herbert was a British diplomat, traveller and intelligence officer associated with Albanian independence. Twice he was offered the throne of Albania...
and the youngest George
George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon
George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon was an English aristocrat best known as the financial backer of the search for and the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings.-Biography:...
. His eldest daughter Lady Winifred married as her second husband Lord Burghclere
Herbert Gardner, 1st Baron Burghclere
Herbert Colstoun Gardner, 1st Baron Burghclere PC was a British Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until he was raised to the peerage in 1895...
and was the mother of the Hon. Evelyn, first wife of the novelist Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
. Carnarvon's son Aubrey was the father of Laura Herbert, who was the second wife of Evelyn Waugh. Lord Carnarvon died at Portman Square
Portman Square
Portman Square is a square in London, part of the Portman Estate. It is located at the western end of Wigmore Street, which connects it to Cavendish Square to its east. It is served by London bus route 274...
, 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...
, in June 1890, aged 59. His second wife survived him by almost forty years and died in February 1929, aged 72.