William Mansfield, 1st Viscount Sandhurst
Encyclopedia
William Mansfield, 1st Viscount Sandhurst GCSI
, GCIE
, GCVO
, PC (21 August 1855 – 2 November 1921) was a British
Liberal
politician and colonial governor. He was Governor of Bombay between 1895 and 1900 and Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1912 and 1921.
, and Margaret, daughter of Robert Fellowes. He served in the Coldstream Guards
, achieving the rank of lieutenant.
from his 21st birthday a few months later. When the Liberals came to power under William Ewart Gladstone
in 1880, he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting
, a post he held until 1885 when the Liberals left office. He was Under-Secretary of State for War
in Gladstone's brief 1886 administration and again from 1892 to 1895 under Gladstone and Lord Rosebery
. In 1895 he as made Governor of Bombay, a post he held until 1900.
Lord Sandhurst did not initially serve in the Liberal administrations headed by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
and H. H. Asquith
but was sworn of the Privy Council in 1907. He did return to ministerial office in 1912 when Asquith appointed him Lord Chamberlain of the Household (succeeding his brother-in-law Lord Spencer
). He continued in this post until his death in 1921, the last five years under the premiership of David Lloyd George
. In 1917 he was made Viscount Sandhurst, of Sandhurst in the County of Berkshire.
, on 20 July 1881. They had two children, who both died in infancy: The Honourable John Robert Mansfield (4 September 1882–5 September 1882) and the Honourable Elizabeth Mansfield (9 June 1884–17 October 1884). After his first wife's death in March 1906 he married secondly Eleanor, younger daughter of Matthew Arnold
and widow of Armine Wodehouse
, on 5 July 1909. There were no children from this marriage. Lord Sandhurst died in 1921, aged 66. The viscountcy became extinct on his death while the barony was inherited by his brother, John Mansfield. Lady Sandhurst died in December 1934.
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...
, GCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, PC (21 August 1855 – 2 November 1921) was a British
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...
Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and colonial governor. He was Governor of Bombay between 1895 and 1900 and Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1912 and 1921.
Background and early life
Mansfield was the son of William Mansfield, 1st Baron SandhurstWilliam Mansfield, 1st Baron Sandhurst
General William Rose Mansfield, 1st Baron Sandhurst, GCB, GCSI, DCL , was a British military commander who served as Commander-in-Chief of India from 1865 to 1870.-Military career:...
, and Margaret, daughter of Robert Fellowes. He served in the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
, achieving the rank of lieutenant.
Political career
Mansfield succeeded his father as Baron Sandhurst in 1876, aged 20, and was entitled to a seat in the House of LordsHouse 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....
from his 21st birthday a few months later. When the Liberals came to power under William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
in 1880, he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
, a post he held until 1885 when the Liberals left office. He was Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
in Gladstone's brief 1886 administration and again from 1892 to 1895 under Gladstone and Lord Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
. In 1895 he as made Governor of Bombay, a post he held until 1900.
Lord Sandhurst did not initially serve in the Liberal administrations headed by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
and H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
but was sworn of the Privy Council in 1907. He did return to ministerial office in 1912 when Asquith appointed him Lord Chamberlain of the Household (succeeding his brother-in-law Lord Spencer
Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer
Charles Robert Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer KG, GCVO, PC, VRD , styled The Honourable Charles Spencer until 1905 and known as The Viscount Althorp between 1905 and 1910, was a British courtier and Liberal politician. An MP from 1880 to 1895 and again from 1900 to 1905, he served as Vice-Chamberlain of...
). He continued in this post until his death in 1921, the last five years under the premiership of David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. In 1917 he was made Viscount Sandhurst, of Sandhurst in the County of Berkshire.
Family
Lord Sandhurst married, firstly, Lady Victoria, daughter of Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl SpencerFrederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer
Vice-Admiral Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer KG, CB, PC , styled The Honourable Frederick Spencer until 1845, was a British naval commander, courtier and Whig politician. He initially served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence, eventually rising...
, on 20 July 1881. They had two children, who both died in infancy: The Honourable John Robert Mansfield (4 September 1882–5 September 1882) and the Honourable Elizabeth Mansfield (9 June 1884–17 October 1884). After his first wife's death in March 1906 he married secondly Eleanor, younger daughter of Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
and widow of Armine Wodehouse
Armine Wodehouse (MP)
Armine Wodehouse CB , was a British civil servant and Liberal politician.Wodehouse was a younger son of Foreign Secretary John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, and his wife Lady Florence, daughter of Richard FitzGibbon, 3rd Earl of Clare...
, on 5 July 1909. There were no children from this marriage. Lord Sandhurst died in 1921, aged 66. The viscountcy became extinct on his death while the barony was inherited by his brother, John Mansfield. Lady Sandhurst died in December 1934.