William Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton
Encyclopedia
Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton PC, FRS
, DL
(June 1799 – 23 March 1864) was a British businessman and a Whig politician who later became a Tory.
and his wife Anne Louisa, daughter of William Bingham. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated in classics in 1821. He received a Master of Arts in 1836 and a Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law
in 1856.
for Thetford
between 1826 and 1830 and 1841 and 1848, for Callington
between 1830 and 1831, for Winchester between 1832 and 1837 and for Staffordshire North
between 1837 and 1841. He was elected as a Whig in 1832 and 1835, and from 1837 as a Tory. He served under Sir Robert Peel as Joint Secretary to the Board of Control
from 1841 to 1845 and as Paymaster-General
, with a seat in the cabinet, from 1845 to 1846. In 1845 he was sworn of the Privy Council. In 1848 he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords
.
Baring was a commandeur of the Légion d'honneur
, awarded for his services to commerce. He served as captain in the Hampshire Yeomanry Cavalry and was a Deputy Lieutenant
for that county. In 1854 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
. One of his on-going legacies is the National Rifle Association
's competition for the Ashburton Shield which was donated by Lord Ashburton in 1861.
, on 12 April 1823. Their only child, Alexander Montagu Baring (1828–1830), died as an infant. Lady Harriet is well known for inspiring the devotion of Thomas Carlyle
, to the great dismay of his wife Jane Welsh Carlyle
. She died on 4 May 1857, aged 51. Lord Ashburton married as his second wife Louisa Caroline Stewart-Mackenzie, youngest daughter of James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
, on 17 November 1858. They had one daughter, the Hon. Mary Florence, born on 26 June 1860 at Bath House, Piccadilly, London
(a site now occupied by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
), who married William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton
. Lord Ashburton died at The Grange, Hertfordshire
, in March 1864, aged 64. He was succeeded in the barony by his younger brother, Francis
. Lady Ashburton subsequently had an intimate relationship with the sculptor Harriet Hosmer. She died in London
in February 1903, aged 75.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, 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....
(June 1799 – 23 March 1864) was a British businessman and a Whig politician who later became a Tory.
Background and education
Baring was the eldest son of Alexander Baring, 1st Baron AshburtonAlexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton
Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton PC was a British politician and financier.-Background:Baring was the second son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, and of Harriet, daughter of William Herring...
and his wife Anne Louisa, daughter of William Bingham. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated in classics in 1821. He received a Master of Arts in 1836 and a Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
in 1856.
Political career
Baring 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 Thetford
Thetford (UK Parliament constituency)
Thetford was a constituency of the British House of Commons. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election until it was disenfranchised in 1868...
between 1826 and 1830 and 1841 and 1848, for Callington
Callington (UK Parliament constituency)
Callington was a rotten borough in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1585 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Reform Act 1832.-History:...
between 1830 and 1831, for Winchester between 1832 and 1837 and for Staffordshire North
North Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Staffordshire was a county constituency in the county of Staffordshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-History:The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832 for the 1832 general...
between 1837 and 1841. He was elected as a Whig in 1832 and 1835, and from 1837 as a Tory. He served under Sir Robert Peel as Joint Secretary to the Board of Control
Secretary to the Board of Control
The Secretary to the Board of Control was a British government office in the late 18th and early 19th century, supporting the President of the Board of Control, who was responsible for overseeing the British East India Company and generally serving as the chief official in London responsible for...
from 1841 to 1845 and as Paymaster-General
Paymaster-General
HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. The Paymaster General is in charge of the Office of HM Paymaster General , which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of Government departments and selected other public bodies...
, with a seat in the cabinet, from 1845 to 1846. In 1845 he was sworn of the Privy Council. In 1848 he succeeded his father in the barony 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....
.
Baring was a commandeur of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, awarded for his services to commerce. He served as captain in the Hampshire Yeomanry Cavalry and was 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 that county. In 1854 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. One of his on-going legacies is the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom
The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom is the governing body of full bore rifle and pistol shooting sports in the United Kingdom.- History :...
's competition for the Ashburton Shield which was donated by Lord Ashburton in 1861.
Family
Lord Ashburton married as his first wife, Lady Harriet Mary Montagu, eldest daughter of George Montagu, 6th Earl of SandwichGeorge Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich
George John Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich was the son of John Montagu, 5th Earl of Sandwich and Lady Mary Henrietta Powlett. He was styled Viscount Hinchingbrooke from 1790 to 1814...
, on 12 April 1823. Their only child, Alexander Montagu Baring (1828–1830), died as an infant. Lady Harriet is well known for inspiring the devotion of Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
, to the great dismay of his wife Jane Welsh Carlyle
Jane Welsh Carlyle
Jane Welsh Carlyle was the wife of essayist Thomas Carlyle and has been cited as the reason for his fame and fortune. She was most notable as a letter-writer. In 1973, G.B...
. She died on 4 May 1857, aged 51. Lord Ashburton married as his second wife Louisa Caroline Stewart-Mackenzie, youngest daughter of James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie , was a Scottish politician and British colonial administrator.Born James Alexander Stewart, the son of Vice Admiral Keith Stewart , he assumed the surname Stewart-Mackenzie after his marriage on 21 May 1817 to Mary Elizabeth Frederica Mackenzie , daughter...
, on 17 November 1858. They had one daughter, the Hon. Mary Florence, born on 26 June 1860 at Bath House, Piccadilly, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(a site now occupied by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
), who married William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton
William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton
William George Spencer Scott Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton, KG , known as Lord William Compton from 1877 to 1887 and as Earl Compton from 1887 to 1897, was a British peer and Liberal politician....
. Lord Ashburton died at The Grange, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, in March 1864, aged 64. He was succeeded in the barony by his younger brother, Francis
Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton
Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton was a British peer Whig and later Tory politician.He was elected at the 1830 general election as a Whig Member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford in Norfolk,...
. Lady Ashburton subsequently had an intimate relationship with the sculptor Harriet Hosmer. She died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in February 1903, aged 75.