Jonathan Peel
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Peel was a British
soldier, Conservative
politician and racehorse owner.
, and his first wife Ellen (née Yates), and the younger brother of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Rugby
.
from 1822 to 1825, as a Major in the 69th Foot from 1826 to 1827, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 53rd Foot in 1827, when he was placed on half-pay
. He was promoted to brevet
Colonel
in 1841, to Major-General in 1854 and to Lieutenant-General in 1859.
for Norwich
in 1826. He lost this seat in 1830 but returned to Parliament the following year as one of two representatives for Huntingdon
, a seat he held until 1868. He served under his brother as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
from 1841 to 1846 and was Secretary of State for War
(with a seat in the cabinet) under the Earl of Derby
between 1858 and 1859 and 1866 and 1867. In the latter office he was considered competent and successful and became very popular. However, he resigned in March 1867 in protest against the proposed electoral reforms
. He had been admitted to the Privy Council in 1858.
won the Derby
, after another horse, Running Rein, had been disqualified.
, in 1824. They had five sons and three daughters. His second son Edmund Yates Peel became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army and his fourth son John Peel achieved the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Army. His second daughter Alice married the diplomat Sir Robert Morier. Peel died in February 1879, aged 79. His wife survived him by eight years and died in May 1887.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier, 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 and racehorse owner.
Background and education
Peel was the fifth son of Sir Robert Peel, 1st BaronetSir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet
Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet , was a British politician and industrialist and one of early textile manufacturers of the Industrial Revolution...
, and his first wife Ellen (née Yates), and the younger brother of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet. 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:...
.
Military career
Peel was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1815. His later steady rise through the ranks was obtained by purchase. Peel served as a lieutenant in the 71st Highlanders from 1819 to 1821 and in 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...
from 1822 to 1825, as a Major in the 69th Foot from 1826 to 1827, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 53rd Foot in 1827, when he was placed on half-pay
Half-pay
In the British Army and Royal Navy of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, half-pay referred to the pay or allowance an officer received when in retirement or not in actual service....
. He was promoted to brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1841, to Major-General in 1854 and to Lieutenant-General in 1859.
Political career
Peel's political career started when he was elected Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Norwich
Norwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Norwich was a borough constituency which was represented in the House of Commons of England from 1298 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election...
in 1826. He lost this seat in 1830 but returned to Parliament the following year as one of two representatives for Huntingdon
Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)
Huntingdon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, a seat he held until 1868. He served under his brother as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
The Surveyor-General of the Ordnance was a subordinate of the Master-General of the Ordnance and a member of the Board of Ordnance from its constitution in 1597. Appointments to the post were made by the crown under Letters Patent. His duties were to examine the ordnance received to see that it was...
from 1841 to 1846 and was 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) under the Earl of Derby
Edward 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...
between 1858 and 1859 and 1866 and 1867. In the latter office he was considered competent and successful and became very popular. However, he resigned in March 1867 in protest against the proposed electoral reforms
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....
. He had been admitted to the Privy Council in 1858.
Racing
Apart from his military and political career Peel was also an owner of racehorses, and in 1844 his horse OrlandoOrlando (horse)
Orlando was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Epsom Derby and as a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Racing record:...
won the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, after another horse, Running Rein, had been disqualified.
Family
Peel married Lady Alice Jane, daughter of Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of AilsaArchibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa
Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa KT, FRS , styled Lord Kennedy between 1792 and 1794 and known as The Earl of Cassilis between 1794 and 1831, was a Scottish peer.-Background:...
, in 1824. They had five sons and three daughters. His second son Edmund Yates Peel became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army and his fourth son John Peel achieved the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Army. His second daughter Alice married the diplomat Sir Robert Morier. Peel died in February 1879, aged 79. His wife survived him by eight years and died in May 1887.