William Pakenham, 4th Earl of Longford
Encyclopedia
William Pakenham, 4th Earl of Longford (31 January 1819 – 19 April 1887), known as the Hon. William Pakenham before 1860, was a British Conservative
politician
and nobleman.
Longford was the second son of Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford
, and succeeded in the earldom in 1860 on the death of his elder brother, the third Earl. He sat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords
and served as Under-Secretary of State for War
from 1866 to 1868 under first the Earl of Derby
and later Benjamin Disraeli
. He was also a Colonel
in the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers.
In February 1870 he was voted chairman of the Central Protestant Defence Association which was established in response to the Irish Church Disestablishment Act 1869.
He served as Lord Lieutenant of Longford
from 1874 to 1887. In Dublin, he was a member of the Kildare Street Club
.
Lord Longford married Selina, daughter of George Rice-Trevor, 4th Baron Dynevor
, in 1862. He died in April 1887, aged 68, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford
. His grandson Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford
, became a prominent Labour
politician. The Countess of Longford survived her husband by over thirty years and died in January 1918, aged 81.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and nobleman.
Longford was the second son of Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford
Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford
Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford KP was an Irish peer. He became Earl of Longford in 1794 after the death of Elizabeth Pakenham, 1st Countess of Longford and was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Patrick on 17 December 1813....
, and succeeded in the earldom in 1860 on the death of his elder brother, the third Earl. He sat on the Conservative benches in 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....
and served as 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...
from 1866 to 1868 under first 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...
and later Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS, was a British Prime Minister, parliamentarian, Conservative statesman and literary figure. Starting from comparatively humble origins, he served in government for three decades, twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom...
. He was also a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers.
In February 1870 he was voted chairman of the Central Protestant Defence Association which was established in response to the Irish Church Disestablishment Act 1869.
He served as Lord Lieutenant of Longford
Lord Lieutenant of Longford
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Longford. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* George Forbes, Viscount Forbes 7 October 1831 – 13 November 1836* Luke White 22 November 1836 – 1841...
from 1874 to 1887. In Dublin, he was a member of the Kildare Street Club
Kildare Street Club
The Kildare Street Club was a gentlemen's club in Dublin, Ireland, at the heart of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy.The Club remained in Kildare Street between 1782 and 1977, when it merged with the Dublin University Club...
.
Lord Longford married Selina, daughter of George Rice-Trevor, 4th Baron Dynevor
George Rice-Trevor, 4th Baron Dynevor
George Rice-Trevor, 4th Baron Dynevor was a British peer. He was the son of George Talbot Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor....
, in 1862. He died in April 1887, aged 68, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford
Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford
Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford KP, MVO , known as Lord Silchester until 1887, was an Irish peer and soldier....
. His grandson Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford
Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford
Francis Aungier Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford KG, PC , known as the Lord Pakenham from 1945 to 1961, was a British politician, author, and social reformer...
, became a prominent Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician. The Countess of Longford survived her husband by over thirty years and died in January 1918, aged 81.