Lord Henry Lennox
Encyclopedia
Lord Henry George Charles Gordon-Lennox PC (2 November 1821 – 29 August 1886), known as Lord Henry Lennox, was a British Conservative
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1846 to 1885 and was a close friend of Benjamin Disraeli.
, and Lady Caroline, daughter of Field Marshal Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey
. He was the brother of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond
, Lord Alexander Gordon-Lennox
and Lord George Gordon-Lennox
. He was educated at The Prebendal School, Chichester
, then University of Oxford
.
in 1846 as Member of Parliament
for Chichester
, in Sussex
. He represented this constituency until 1885, when he stood for Partick
, but was defeated.
Lennox held office in every Conservative government between 1852 and 1876. He was a Junior Lord of the Treasury
in 1852 and between 1858 and 1859 in the first two short-lived governments of the Earl of Derby
before becoming First Secretary of the Admiralty
in 1866 in Derby's last government, a post he held until 1868, the last year under the premiership of his close friend Benjamin Disraeli. According to John F. Beeler in British naval policy in the Gladstone-Disraeli era, 1866-1880, Lennox acted as a spy to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer
, Disraeli, informing him of the intentions of leading admirals.
He served again under Disraeli as First Commissioner of Works
from 1874 to 1876 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1874. He was forced to resign as First Commissioner of Works after revelations in the case of Twycross v Grant regarding the Lisbon Tramways swindle, of which company he was a director.
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 who sat in the House of Commons from 1846 to 1885 and was a close friend of Benjamin Disraeli.
Background and education
Lennox was the third son of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of RichmondCharles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and 5th Duke of Lennox KG, PC , styled Earl of March until in 1819, was a British soldier, politician and a prominent Conservative.-Background and education:...
, and Lady Caroline, daughter of Field Marshal Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey
Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey
Field Marshal Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, KG, GCB, GCH, PC , styled Lord Paget between 1784 and 1812 and known as The Earl of Uxbridge between 1812 and 1815, was a British military leader and politician, now chiefly remembered for leading the charge of the heavy cavalry against...
. He was the brother of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond
Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon KG PC , styled Lord Settrington until 1819 and Earl of March between 1819 and 1860, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:Born at Richmond House, London, he was the son of Charles...
, Lord Alexander Gordon-Lennox
Lord Alexander Gordon-Lennox
Lord Alexander Francis Charles Gordon-Lennox , was a British Conservative politician.-Background:Gordon-Lennox was the fourth son of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond, and Lady Caroline, daughter of Field Marshal Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey...
and Lord George Gordon-Lennox
Lord George Gordon-Lennox
Lord George Charles Gordon-Lennox , was a British Conservative politician.-Background:Gordon-Lennox was the fifth son of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and Lady Caroline, daughter of Field Marshal Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey...
. He was educated at The Prebendal School, Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, then University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Political career
Lennox entered the House of CommonsBritish 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...
in 1846 as Member of Parliament
Member 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 Chichester
Chichester (UK Parliament constituency)
Chichester is a county constituency in West Sussex, 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....
, in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. He represented this constituency until 1885, when he stood for Partick
Glasgow Partick (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Partick was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1950.- Boundaries :...
, but was defeated.
Lennox held office in every Conservative government between 1852 and 1876. He was a Junior 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 1852 and between 1858 and 1859 in the first two short-lived governments of 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...
before becoming First Secretary of the Admiralty
First Secretary of the Admiralty
The office of Secretary to the Admiralty or First Secretary to the Admiralty was formerly an important position within the Admiralty of the United Kingdom, which was responsible for the government of the Royal Navy....
in 1866 in Derby's last government, a post he held until 1868, the last year under the premiership of his close friend Benjamin Disraeli. According to John F. Beeler in British naval policy in the Gladstone-Disraeli era, 1866-1880, Lennox acted as a spy to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, Disraeli, informing him of the intentions of leading admirals.
He served again under Disraeli as First Commissioner of Works
First Commissioner of Works
The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public...
from 1874 to 1876 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1874. He was forced to resign as First Commissioner of Works after revelations in the case of Twycross v Grant regarding the Lisbon Tramways swindle, of which company he was a director.