Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo
Encyclopedia
Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo KP, GMSI
, PC (21 February 1822 – 8 February 1872), styled Lord Naas between 1842 and 1867, was a statesman
and prominent member of the British Conservative Party
from Dublin, Ireland
.
was also a successful politician. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
.
, Mayo entered parliament
for Kildare
in 1847, a seat he held until 1852, and then represented Coleraine
from 1852 to 1857 and Cockermouth
from 1857 to 1868. He was thrice appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland
- in 1852, 1858 and 1866 - and in 1869 he became the fourth Viceroy of India. He consolidated the frontiers of India
and reorganised the country's finances; he also did much to promote irrigation, railways, forests and other useful public works. The European-oriented Mayo College
at Ajmer
was founded by him for the education of young Indian chiefs, with £70,000 being subscribed by the chiefs themselves.
in the Andaman Islands
, for the purpose of inspection, he was assassinated by Sher Ali, a Pathan
convict who used a knife. His murderer appeared to be motivated only by a sense of injustice at his own imprisonment, and had resolved to kill a high ranking colonial official. Mayo's body was brought home to Ireland and buried at the medieval ruined church in Johnstown
, County Kildare
, near his home at Palmerstown House.
In 1873, the newly-discovered swallowtail butterfly
Papilio mayo
from the Andaman Islands was named in honor of the late earl.
On 19 August 1875 a statue of Lord Mayo was unveiled in the town of Cockermouth
in the centre of the main street. The eight hundred guinea cost of the statue (made by Messrs. Willis of London) had been raised by public subscription. The unveiling was attended by Mayo's son, the 7th Earl; Lord Napier and Ettrick; the then Bishop of Carlisle
Harvey Goodwin: and the Earl of Lonsdale
. The statue, carved in Sicilian marble, depicts Lord Mayo in his viceregal garb, and still stands today.
, in 1848. He was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Richard. Lady Mayo died in 1918.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, PC (21 February 1822 – 8 February 1872), styled Lord Naas between 1842 and 1867, was a statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and prominent member of the British 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...
from Dublin, Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
.
Background and education
Mayo was born in Dublin, the eldest son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo, and his wife Anne Charlotte, daughter of the Hon. John Jocelyn. His younger brother the Hon. Robert BourkeRobert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara
Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara GCIE, PC was a British Conservative politician and colonial administrator...
was also a successful politician. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
.
Political career
After travelling in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Mayo entered parliament
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 Kildare
Kildare (UK Parliament constituency)
A former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament:-References:*The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith , 2nd edition edited by F.W.S. Craig *Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B.M...
in 1847, a seat he held until 1852, and then represented Coleraine
Coleraine (UK Parliament constituency)
Coleraine is a former 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:...
from 1852 to 1857 and Cockermouth
Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Cockermouth was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295, and again from 1641, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough represented by two...
from 1857 to 1868. He was thrice appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief 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 1852, 1858 and 1866 - and in 1869 he became the fourth Viceroy of India. He consolidated the frontiers of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and reorganised the country's finances; he also did much to promote irrigation, railways, forests and other useful public works. The European-oriented Mayo College
Mayo College
Mayo College is a public school founded by the 6th Earl of Mayo, who was Viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872.The school is located in Ajmer, in the state of Rajasthan, India....
at Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
was founded by him for the education of young Indian chiefs, with £70,000 being subscribed by the chiefs themselves.
Assassination
While visiting the convict settlement at Port BlairPort Blair
Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India...
in the Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
, for the purpose of inspection, he was assassinated by Sher Ali, a Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
convict who used a knife. His murderer appeared to be motivated only by a sense of injustice at his own imprisonment, and had resolved to kill a high ranking colonial official. Mayo's body was brought home to Ireland and buried at the medieval ruined church in Johnstown
Johnstown, County Kildare
Johnstown , historically known as Freaghillan , is a village in County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. It is located 2 km north of Naas just off the N7 at junction 8. It is approximately 25 km from Dublin City Centre, and is a home for commuters working in Dublin and Naas...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, near his home at Palmerstown House.
In 1873, the newly-discovered swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
Papilio mayo
Papilio mayo
The Andaman Mormon is a species of swallowtail butterfly that is endemic to the Andamans. It is a species that is protected by Indian Law...
from the Andaman Islands was named in honor of the late earl.
On 19 August 1875 a statue of Lord Mayo was unveiled in the town of Cockermouth
Cockermouth
-History:The Romans created a fort at Derventio, now the adjoining village of Papcastle, to protect the river crossing, which had become located on a major route for troops heading towards Hadrian's Wall....
in the centre of the main street. The eight hundred guinea cost of the statue (made by Messrs. Willis of London) had been raised by public subscription. The unveiling was attended by Mayo's son, the 7th Earl; Lord Napier and Ettrick; the then Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
Harvey Goodwin: and the Earl of Lonsdale
Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale
Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale was a British nobleman and Conservative politician, the eldest son of Henry Cecil Lowther and Lady Lucy Sherard.He married Emily Susan Caulfeild on 31 July 1852. They had six children:...
. The statue, carved in Sicilian marble, depicts Lord Mayo in his viceregal garb, and still stands today.
Family
Lord Mayo married Blanche Julia, daughter of George Wyndham, 1st Baron LeconfieldGeorge Wyndham, 1st Baron Leconfield
George Wyndham, 1st Baron Leconfield , was a British soldier and peer.A direct descendant of Sir John Wyndham, he was the eldest natural son of George O'Brien Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, and Elizabeth Ilive. He entered the British Army and achieved the rank of Colonel. His parents were married...
, in 1848. He was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Richard. Lady Mayo died in 1918.
See also
- Viceroy of India
- Mayo Hall (Bangalore, India)
- Mayo CollegeMayo CollegeMayo College is a public school founded by the 6th Earl of Mayo, who was Viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872.The school is located in Ajmer, in the state of Rajasthan, India....
, AjmerAjmerAjmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, British India
- Mayo Hall (Amitabh Bachchan Sports Complex), AllahabadAllahabadAllahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...