William Robert Seymour Vesey-FitzGerald
Encyclopedia
Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey-FitzGerald GCSI
, GCIE
, PC (1818 – 28 June 1885) was a British
politician and colonial administrator. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
between 1858 and 1859 and as Governor of Bombay between 1867 and 1872.
. He was educated at both Christ Church, Oxford
and Oriel College, Oxford, graduating with a degree in Classics in 1837.
in 1848, but was unseated on petition. In 1852 he was once again elected for Horsham and was able to hold the seat until 1865. He served under the Earl of Derby
as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
between 1858 and 1859. In 1866 he was appointed Governor of Bombay, admitted to the Privy Council and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India
and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
. On his return to Britain, he again represented Horsham in parliament from 1874 to 1875. In 1875 he was appointed Chief Charity Commissioner.
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...
, PC (1818 – 28 June 1885) 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...
politician and colonial administrator. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
between 1858 and 1859 and as Governor of Bombay between 1867 and 1872.
Background and education
FitzGerald was the illegitimate son of William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and VeseyWilliam Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey
William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey PC, PC , FRS, FSA was an Irish statesman.-Background and education:...
. He was educated at both Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and Oriel College, Oxford, graduating with a degree in Classics in 1837.
Political career
FitzGerald was elected member for HorshamHorsham (UK Parliament constituency)
Horsham is a parliamentary 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 :...
in 1848, but was unseated on petition. In 1852 he was once again elected for Horsham and was able to hold the seat until 1865. He served under 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...
as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
between 1858 and 1859. In 1866 he was appointed Governor of Bombay, admitted to the Privy Council and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India
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...
and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
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...
. On his return to Britain, he again represented Horsham in parliament from 1874 to 1875. In 1875 he was appointed Chief Charity Commissioner.