John Crichton, 4th Earl Erne
Encyclopedia
John Henry Crichton, 4th Earl Erne KP, PC (I)
(16 October 1839 – 2 December 1914), known as Viscount Crichton from 1842 to 1885, was an Anglo
-Irish
peer and Conservative
politician.
Erne was the son of John Crichton, 3rd Earl Erne
, and Selina Griselda Beresford.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Donegal
for 1867. He was then elected to the House of Commons
for Enniskillen
in 1868, a seat he held until 1880, and then represented Fermanagh
from 1880 to 1885. Between 1876 to 1880 he served as a Lord of the Treasury
in the Conservative administration
of Benjamin Disraeli. In October 1885 he succeeded his father as fourth Earl Erne and entered the House of Lords
, and served as Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh from 1885 to 1914. He was made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick in 1889 and was admitted to the Irish Privy Council in 1902.
Lord Erne married Lady Florence Mary Cole, daughter of William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen
, in 1870. He died in December 1914, aged 75, and was succeeded in his titles by his grandson John, his eldest son Major Henry William Crichton, Viscount Crichton, having predeceased him.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(16 October 1839 – 2 December 1914), known as Viscount Crichton from 1842 to 1885, was an Anglo
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
-Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
peer 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.
Erne was the son of John Crichton, 3rd Earl Erne
John Crichton, 3rd Earl Erne
John Crichton, 3rd Earl Erne KP was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician.Erne succeeded his uncle as third Earl Erne in 1842. In 1845 he was elected an Irish Representative Peer in the House of Lords, which he remained until his death. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh from 1845...
, and Selina Griselda Beresford.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Donegal
High Sheriff of Donegal
The High Sheriff of Donegal was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Donegal, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Donegal County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
for 1867. He was then elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Enniskillen
Enniskillen (UK Parliament constituency)
Enniskillen was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland, returning one MP. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801.-Boundaries:...
in 1868, a seat he held until 1880, and then represented Fermanagh
Fermanagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Fermanagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Northern Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament.-Boundaries:This constituency comprised the whole of County Fermanagh, except for the Borough of Enniskillen.-Members of Parliament:-References:...
from 1880 to 1885. Between 1876 to 1880 he served as a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
in the Conservative administration
Conservative Government 1874-1880
Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for the second time after Mr Gladstone's government was defeated in the General Election of 1874. Disraeli's foreign policy was seen as immoral by Gladstone, and following the latter's Midlothian Campaign, the government was heavily...
of Benjamin Disraeli. In October 1885 he succeeded his father as fourth Earl Erne and entered the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and served as Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh from 1885 to 1914. He was made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick in 1889 and was admitted to the Irish Privy Council in 1902.
Lord Erne married Lady Florence Mary Cole, daughter of William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen
William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen
William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen FRS , known by his courtesy title of Viscount Cole from 1807 to 1840, was a British palaeontologist and Conservative Member of Parliament....
, in 1870. He died in December 1914, aged 75, and was succeeded in his titles by his grandson John, his eldest son Major Henry William Crichton, Viscount Crichton, having predeceased him.