Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Clerk of Pennycuik, 6th Baronet PC
, DL
(19 November 1787 – 23 December 1867), was a British Tory politician.
, by his wife Janet Irving, daughter of George Irving, of Newton.
for Edinburghshire from 1811 to 1832 and again from 1835 to 1837, for Stamford
from 1838 to 1847 and then for Dover
from 1847 to 1852. He served as one of the Commissioners of Weights and Measures from 1818 to 1821. He held political office as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1819 to 1830 (from 1827 to 1828 he was a member of the Council of the Lord High Admiral
(The Duke of Clarence
), as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
from 5 August to 22 November 1830, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
from November 1834 to April 1835, as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
from September 1841 to February 1845. In 1845 he was sworn of the Privy Council
and appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade
and Master of the Mint
, posts he held until the fall of the Tory administration in 1846. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
for Edinburghshire.
, in 1810. He died in December 1867, aged 80.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(19 November 1787 – 23 December 1867), was a British Tory politician.
Background
Clerk was the son of James Clerk, third son of Sir George Clerk-Maxwell, 4th BaronetSir George Clerk-Maxwell, 4th Baronet
Sir George Clerk-Maxwell, 4th Baronet FRSE , of Penicuik , was a Scottish landowner who served as the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer in Exchequer , Commissioner of Customs and as a Trustee for Improving Fisheries and Manufactures in Scotland...
, by his wife Janet Irving, daughter of George Irving, of Newton.
Political career
Clerk sat as 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 Edinburghshire from 1811 to 1832 and again from 1835 to 1837, for Stamford
Stamford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stamford was a constituency in the county of Lincolnshire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
from 1838 to 1847 and then for Dover
Dover (UK Parliament constituency)
Dover is a 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.-Boundaries:...
from 1847 to 1852. He served as one of the Commissioners of Weights and Measures from 1818 to 1821. He held political office as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1819 to 1830 (from 1827 to 1828 he was a member of the Council of the Lord High Admiral
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
(The Duke of Clarence
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
), as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
-Non-permanent and parliamentary under-secretaries, 1782-present:*April 1782: Evan Nepean*April 1782: Thomas Orde*July 1782: Henry Strachey*April 1783: George North*February 1784: Hon. John Townshend*June 1789: Scrope Bernard*July 1794: The Hon...
from 5 August to 22 November 1830, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is a junior ministerial position in the British Government. The holder is usually the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons. However, the office is no longer attached to the Treasury...
from November 1834 to April 1835, as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
from September 1841 to February 1845. In 1845 he was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
and appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade
Vice-President of the Board of Trade
The office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade was a junior ministerial position in the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created in 1786 and abolished in 1867. From 1848 onwards the office was held concurrently with that of Paymaster-General...
and Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and later Great Britain, between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Master was the highest officer in the Royal Mint. Until 1699, appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet...
, posts he held until the fall of the Tory administration in 1846. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Edinburghshire.
Family
Clerk married the daughter of Ewan Law, brother of Edward Law, 1st Baron EllenboroughEdward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough PC KC was an English judge. After serving as a Member of Parliament and Attorney General, he became Lord Chief Justice.-Early life:...
, in 1810. He died in December 1867, aged 80.