Born in London, Thesiger was the third son of Charles Thesiger, collector of customs at St Vincent, West Indies, by his wife Mary Anne, daughter of Theophilus Williams. His paternal grandfather, John Andrew Thesiger, was born in Saxony but migrated to England and became secretary to Lord Rockingham.[1] Thesiger's uncle Sir Frederick Thesiger was naval aide-de-camp to Lord Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
Career
Thesiger was originally destined for a naval career, and he served as a midshipman on HMS Cambrian in 1807 at the second bombardment of Copenhagen. His only surviving brother died about this time, however, and he became entitled to succeed to a valuable estate in the West Indies. It was decided that he should leave the navy and study law with a view to practising in the West Indies and eventually managing his property in person. He proceeded to enter at Gray's Inn in 1813, and was called to the bar on 18 November 1818. He joined the home circuit, and soon got into good practice at the Surrey sessions, while he also made a fortunate purchase in buying the right to appear in the old palace court (see Lord Steward). Another change of fortune, however, awaited him, for a volcano destroyed the family estate, and he was thrown back upon his prospect of a legal practice in the West Indies.[2]
In 1824, he distinguished himself by his defence of Joseph Hunt when on his trial at Hertford with John Thurtell for the murder of William Weare; and eight years later at Chelmsford assizes he won a hard-fought action in an ejectment case after three trials, to which he attributed so much of his subsequent success that when he was raised to the peerage he elected to be created Baron Chelmsford, of Chelmsford in the County of Essex. In 1834, he was made King's Counsel, and in 1835 was briefed in the Dublin election inquiry which unseated Daniel O'Connell. In 1840, he was elected member of parliament for Woodstock. In 1844, he became Solicitor General, but having ceased to enjoy the favour of the Duke of Marlborough, lost his seat for Woodstock and had to find another at Abingdon. In 1845, he became Attorney-General, holding the post until the fall of the Peel government on 3 July 1846. Thus by three days Thesiger missed being chief justice of the common pleas, for on 6 July Sir Nicholas Tindal died, and the seat on the bench, which would have been Thesiger's as of right, fell to the Liberal attorney-general, Sir Thomas Wilde.[3]
Lord Chelmsford married Anna Maria Tinling, daughter of William Tinling and Frances Pierson,[4] in 1822. They had four sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Frederic, who succeeded to his peerage, earned distinction as a soldier, commanding at the disastrous defeat at Isandlwana, but recovering some of his reputation by his victory at Ulundi. Chelmsford's second son Charles Wemyss Thesiger (1831–1903), was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. Chelmsford's third son, Alfred Henry Thesiger, was a Lord Justice of Appeal, but died aged 42. Lady Chelmsford died in April 1875, aged 75. Lord Chelmsford survived her by three years and died in London on 5 October 1878, aged 84. He is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London.[5] His daughter, Julia (1833–1904) was married to Sir John Eardley Inglis[6] who commanded the British forces during the Siege of Lucknow in 1857. She later wrote of her experiences during the siege including extracts from her diary.[7]
Arms
Coat of arms of Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford
Crest
A cornucopia fesswise the horn Or the fruit Proper thereon a dove holding in the beak a sprig of laurel also Proper.
Escutcheon
Gules a griffin segreant Or within an orle of roses Argent barbed and seeded Proper.
^"Hon. Julia Selina Thesiger". thepeerage.com. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
^Inglis, Julia Selina (1892). "The Siege of Lucknow: a Diary". A Celebration of Woman Writers. James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chelmsford, Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 23–24.
Hamilton, J. A.; Agnew, Sinéad. "Thesiger, Frederick, first Baron Chelmsford (1794–1878)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27176. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
External links
Media related to Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford at Wikimedia Commons
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Frederic Thesiger
frederic, thesiger, baron, chelmsford, other, people, named, frederic, thesiger, frederic, thesiger, disambiguation, april, 1794, october, 1878, british, jurist, conservative, politician, twice, lord, high, chancellor, great, britain, right, honourablethe, lor. For other people named Frederic Thesiger see Frederic Thesiger disambiguation Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Chelmsford PC QC FRS 25 April 1794 5 October 1878 was a British jurist and Conservative politician He was twice Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain The Right HonourableThe Lord ChelmsfordPC QC FRSLord High Chancellor of Great BritainIn office 26 February 1858 11 June 1859Prime MinisterThe Earl of DerbyPreceded byThe Lord CranworthSucceeded byThe Lord CampbellIn office 6 July 1866 29 February 1868Prime MinisterThe Earl of DerbyPreceded byThe Lord CranworthSucceeded byThe Lord CairnsPersonal detailsBorn 1794 04 25 25 April 1794London United KingdomDied5 October 1878 1878 10 05 aged 84 London United KingdomResting placeBrompton CemeteryPolitical partyConservativeSpouseAnna Maria Tinling m 1822 died 1875 wbr Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Family 4 Arms 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditBorn in London Thesiger was the third son of Charles Thesiger collector of customs at St Vincent West Indies by his wife Mary Anne daughter of Theophilus Williams His paternal grandfather John Andrew Thesiger was born in Saxony but migrated to England and became secretary to Lord Rockingham 1 Thesiger s uncle Sir Frederick Thesiger was naval aide de camp to Lord Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 Career EditThesiger was originally destined for a naval career and he served as a midshipman on HMS Cambrian in 1807 at the second bombardment of Copenhagen His only surviving brother died about this time however and he became entitled to succeed to a valuable estate in the West Indies It was decided that he should leave the navy and study law with a view to practising in the West Indies and eventually managing his property in person He proceeded to enter at Gray s Inn in 1813 and was called to the bar on 18 November 1818 He joined the home circuit and soon got into good practice at the Surrey sessions while he also made a fortunate purchase in buying the right to appear in the old palace court see Lord Steward Another change of fortune however awaited him for a volcano destroyed the family estate and he was thrown back upon his prospect of a legal practice in the West Indies 2 In 1824 he distinguished himself by his defence of Joseph Hunt when on his trial at Hertford with John Thurtell for the murder of William Weare and eight years later at Chelmsford assizes he won a hard fought action in an ejectment case after three trials to which he attributed so much of his subsequent success that when he was raised to the peerage he elected to be created Baron Chelmsford of Chelmsford in the County of Essex In 1834 he was made King s Counsel and in 1835 was briefed in the Dublin election inquiry which unseated Daniel O Connell In 1840 he was elected member of parliament for Woodstock In 1844 he became Solicitor General but having ceased to enjoy the favour of the Duke of Marlborough lost his seat for Woodstock and had to find another at Abingdon In 1845 he became Attorney General holding the post until the fall of the Peel government on 3 July 1846 Thus by three days Thesiger missed being chief justice of the common pleas for on 6 July Sir Nicholas Tindal died and the seat on the bench which would have been Thesiger s as of right fell to the Liberal attorney general Sir Thomas Wilde 3 Thesiger remained in parliament changing his seat however again in 1852 and becoming member for Stamford During this period he enjoyed a very large practice at the bar being instructed in many causes celebres including the Swynfen will case and Cardinal Newman s criminal prosecution for his libel of Giacinto Achilli On Lord Derby coming into office for the second time in 1858 Thesiger was raised straight from the bar to the Lord Chancellorship as were Brougham and Vaux Selborne and Halsbury He served as Lord Chancellor again in Derby s 1866 67 government In 1868 Lord Derby retired and his successor Benjamin Disraeli wanted Lord Cairns as Lord Chancellor Lord Chelmsford was very sore at his supersession and the manner of it but according to Lord Malmesbury he retired under a compact made before he took office 3 Family EditLord Chelmsford married Anna Maria Tinling daughter of William Tinling and Frances Pierson 4 in 1822 They had four sons and three daughters His eldest son Frederic who succeeded to his peerage earned distinction as a soldier commanding at the disastrous defeat at Isandlwana but recovering some of his reputation by his victory at Ulundi Chelmsford s second son Charles Wemyss Thesiger 1831 1903 was a Lieutenant General in the Army Chelmsford s third son Alfred Henry Thesiger was a Lord Justice of Appeal but died aged 42 Lady Chelmsford died in April 1875 aged 75 Lord Chelmsford survived her by three years and died in London on 5 October 1878 aged 84 He is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London 5 His daughter Julia 1833 1904 was married to Sir John Eardley Inglis 6 who commanded the British forces during the Siege of Lucknow in 1857 She later wrote of her experiences during the siege including extracts from her diary 7 Arms EditCoat of arms of Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Chelmsford Crest A cornucopia fesswise the horn Or the fruit Proper thereon a dove holding in the beak a sprig of laurel also Proper Escutcheon Gules a griffin segreant Or within an orle of roses Argent barbed and seeded Proper Supporters On either side a griffin Or winged Vair Motto Spes Et Fortuna Hope and Fortune 8 Notes Edit Chisholm 1911 p 23 Chisholm 1911 pp 23 24 a b Chisholm 1911 p 24 Anna Maria Tinling thepeerage com 4 February 2007 Retrieved 16 April 2011 www brompton org Hon Julia Selina Thesiger thepeerage com 13 February 2011 Retrieved 16 April 2011 Inglis Julia Selina 1892 The Siege of Lucknow a Diary A Celebration of Woman Writers James R Osgood McIlvaine amp Co Retrieved 16 April 2011 Debrett s Peerage 1865 References Edit Funerary monument Brompton Cemetery London This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Chelmsford Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 6 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 23 24 Hamilton John Andrew 1898 Thesiger Frederick 1794 1878 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 56 London Smith Elder amp Co p 128 128 Hamilton J A Agnew Sinead Thesiger Frederick first Baron Chelmsford 1794 1878 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 27176 Subscription or UK public library membership required External links Edit Media related to Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Chelmsford at Wikimedia Commons Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Frederic Thesiger Leigh Rayment s Peerage Pages Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPsParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byMarquess of Blandford Member of Parliament for Woodstock1840 1844 Succeeded byMarquess of BlandfordPreceded byThomas Duffield Member of Parliament for Abingdon1844 1852 Succeeded byJames CaulfeildPreceded byMarquess of GranbyJohn Charles Herries Member of Parliament for Stamford1852 1858 With John Charles Herries to 1853Lord Robert Cecil from 1853 Succeeded byJohn InglisLord Robert CecilLegal officesPreceded bySir William Webb Follett Solicitor General1844 1845 Succeeded bySir Fitzroy KellyPreceded bySir William Webb Follett Attorney General1845 1846 Succeeded bySir Thomas WildePreceded bySir Alexander Cockburn Attorney General1852 Succeeded bySir Alexander Cockburn BtPolitical officesPreceded byThe Lord Cranworth Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain1858 1859 Succeeded byThe Lord CampbellPreceded byThe Lord Cranworth Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain1866 1868 Succeeded byThe Lord CairnsPeerage of the United KingdomNew creation Baron Chelmsford1858 1878 Succeeded byFrederic Thesiger Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Chelmsford amp oldid 1119719975, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
