Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster
Encyclopedia
Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster PC (19 August 1855 – 12 March 1909), known as H. O. Arnold-Forster, was a British politician and writer. He notably served as Secretary of State for War
from 1903 to 1905.
, Director of Public Instruction in the Punjab, and grandson of Thomas Arnold
, of Rugby. When his father died in 1859, he was adopted by William Edward Forster
and his wife Jane, who was his father's sister. He was educated at Rugby
and University College, Oxford
, from which he graduated with 1st Class Honours. He was called to the bar
in 1879.
in 1880. He joined Cassell & Co. in 1885, for whom he prepared educational manuals, including the "Citizen Reader" series. He was secretary of the Imperial Federation League
from 1884. He sat as Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament for West Belfast
from 1892 to 1906 and Unionist member for Croydon
from 1906 until his death and served as Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty under Lord Salisbury
and Arthur Balfour
from 1900 to 1903 and under Balfour as Secretary of State for War
(with a seat in the cabinet) from 1903 to 1905, during which time he reorganized the War Office
(see Esher Report
). In 1903 he was sworn of the Privy Council.
, in 1885. They had four sons, of whom his Times obituary states "the eldest is just beginning to practise as an artist, and the youngest is a naval cadet." They were :
Arnold-Forster died in March 1909, aged 53.
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
from 1903 to 1905.
Background and education
Arnold-Forster was the son of William Delafield ArnoldWilliam Delafield Arnold
William Delafield Arnold was a British author and colonial administrator.He was the fourth son of Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School. His older brothers included the poet and critic Matthew Arnold and the literary scholar Tom Arnold...
, Director of Public Instruction in the Punjab, and grandson of Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement...
, of Rugby. When his father died in 1859, he was adopted by William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster PC, FRS was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party statesman.-Early life:...
and his wife Jane, who was his father's sister. He was educated at Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, from which he graduated with 1st Class Honours. He was called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1879.
Political career
Arnold-Forster acted as private secretary to his adoptive father, who became Chief Secretary for IrelandChief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
in 1880. He joined Cassell & Co. in 1885, for whom he prepared educational manuals, including the "Citizen Reader" series. He was secretary of the Imperial Federation League
Imperial Federation League
The Imperial Federation League was a 19th century organisation which aimed to promote Imperial Federation.-Formation:It was founded in London in 1884. Branches were established in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados and British Guiana. It aimed to promote Imperial Federation. Canada...
from 1884. He sat as Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament for West Belfast
Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
from 1892 to 1906 and Unionist member for Croydon
Croydon (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon was a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
from 1906 until his death and served as Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty under 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...
and Arthur Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
from 1900 to 1903 and under Balfour as Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
(with a seat in the cabinet) from 1903 to 1905, during which time he reorganized the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
(see Esher Report
Esher Report
The Esher Report of 1904, chaired by Lord Esher, recommended radical reform of the British Army, such as the creation of an Army Council, a General Staff and the abolition of the office of Commander-in-Chief of the Forces and the creation of a Chief of the General Staff, laid down the character of...
). In 1903 he was sworn of the Privy Council.
Family
Arnold-Forster married Mary Lucy Story-Maskelyne (1861-1951), daughter of Nevil Story MaskelyneNevil Story Maskelyne
Mervyn Herbert Nevil Story Maskelyne was an English geologist and politician.-Scientific career:Educated at Wadham College, Oxford, Maskelyne taught mineralogy and chemistry at Oxford from 1851, before becoming a professor of mineralogy, 1856-95. He was Keeper of Minerals at the British Museum...
, in 1885. They had four sons, of whom his Times obituary states "the eldest is just beginning to practise as an artist, and the youngest is a naval cadet." They were :
- William Edward Arnold-Forster (8 May 1886-1951) artist, author & Labour politician, married Katherine "Ka" Laird Cox in 1918. She was the former lover of Rupert BrookeRupert BrookeRupert Chawner Brooke was an English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, especially The Soldier...
. Their son was Mark Arnold-ForsterMark Arnold-ForsterMark Arnold-Forster, DSO, DSC was an English journalist and author. He is best remembered for his book The World at War, which accompanied the 1973 television series of the same name.-Early years:...
. After Cox's death, he married Ruth Mallory, widow of George MalloryGeorge MalloryGeorge Herbert Leigh Mallory was an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s....
the mountaineer. - Mervyn Nevill Arnold-Forster (21 March 1888- 6 May 1927)
- John Anthony Arnold-Forster (20 September 1889-1958), married Daphne Mansel-Pleydell in 1919. Vanda Morton, biographer of Nevil Story Maskelyne, is their daughter.
- Hugh Christopher Arnold-Forster (9 December 1890- 21 July 1965), who rose to become a Commander in the Royal Navy and served as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence during the Second World War; married Marcia Buddicom in 1922 and Frances Brown in 1948.
Arnold-Forster died in March 1909, aged 53.
Publications
Arnold-Forster's publications include:- How to Solve the Irish Land Question
- The Citizen Reader
- The Laws of Everyday Life
- This World of Ours
- In a Conning Tower
- Things New and Old
- Our Home Army
- A History of England
- Army Letters
- The Coming of the Kilogram
- Our Great City
- The Army in 1906: a Policy and a Vindication
- English Socialism of To-Day.
- An English View of Irish Secession in Political Science Quarterly (Mar. 1889)