William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket
Encyclopedia
William Lee Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket, GCMG
, KCVO
, KBE
(19 December 1864 – 24 January 1920) was a British
diplomat and administrator. He was Governor of New Zealand from 1904 to 1910.
and Trinity College Dublin. His parents were William, 4th Lord Plunket, the archbishop of Dublin in 1884-97, and his wife Anne, the daughter of Sir Benjamin Guinness
.
He entered the Diplomatic Service and was sent to Rome
in 1889 as an attaché to the British Embassy there. In 1892, he was appointed in the same position to the embassy in Constantinople
, and finally retired two years later. In 1894, he also married Lady Victoria Alexandrina, youngest daughter of the 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
, by whom he was to have eight children. Victoria gave her name to Plunket Society
, a New Zealand
society promoting the health and well-being of mothers and children.
in 1897, Plunket three years later became private secretary to Lord Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
at the time, and fulfilled the same role for his successor, Lord Dudley. He was appointed CVO
and KCVO in 1900 and 1903 respectively, and in 1904 he became Governor of New Zealand
as well as a KCMG
the following year. By chance the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
at the time was his cousin Arthur Guinness
. He held this post until 1910, when he was advanced to GCMG. He was later appointed KBE
in 1918.
, and was buried in the city's Putney Vale Cemetery
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, KCVO
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...
, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(19 December 1864 – 24 January 1920) 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...
diplomat and administrator. He was Governor of New Zealand from 1904 to 1910.
Early life
Born in Dublin, he was educated at HarrowHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Trinity College Dublin. His parents were William, 4th Lord Plunket, the archbishop of Dublin in 1884-97, and his wife Anne, the daughter of Sir Benjamin Guinness
Benjamin Guinness
Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, 1st Baronet was an Irish brewer and philanthropist.-Brewer:Born in Dublin, he was the third son of the second Arthur Guinness , and his wife Anne Lee, and a grandson of the latter's namesake who founded the Guinness brewery in 1759...
.
He entered the Diplomatic Service and was sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1889 as an attaché to the British Embassy there. In 1892, he was appointed in the same position to the embassy in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and finally retired two years later. In 1894, he also married Lady Victoria Alexandrina, youngest daughter of the 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC was a British public servant and prominent member of Victorian society...
, by whom he was to have eight children. Victoria gave her name to Plunket Society
Plunket Society
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society is an incorporated society in New Zealand which provides a range of health services to healthy babies and young children...
, a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
society promoting the health and well-being of mothers and children.
Career
Having succeeded his father as fifth Baron PlunketBaron Plunket
Baron Plunket, of Newtown in the County of Cork, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1827 for the prominent Irish lawyer and Whig politician William Plunket. He served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1830 and 1834 and again from 1835 to 1841. His eldest son, the...
in 1897, Plunket three years later became private secretary to Lord Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
at the time, and fulfilled the same role for his successor, Lord Dudley. He was appointed CVO
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...
and KCVO in 1900 and 1903 respectively, and in 1904 he became Governor of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
as well as a KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
the following year. By chance the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
at the time was his cousin Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness (New Zealand)
Sir Arthur Robert Guinness was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.-Personal information:...
. He held this post until 1910, when he was advanced to GCMG. He was later appointed KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1918.
Death
Lord Plunket died on 24 January 1920 aged 55 in 40 Elvaston Place, LondonLondon
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...
, and was buried in the city's Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
.