Smythe's father had been Disraeli's friend during the 1830s, and had sponsored the latter for the Carlton Club (along with Lord Chandos). The younger Smythe believed in the sort of romantic Toryism espoused by Lord John Manners. Both of them were heavily influenced by Frederick Faber, an apostle of John Henry Newman, leader of the Oxford Movement. Disraeli and Smythe had known each other through the latter's father since an early age, but it was in the House of Commons that the two became close. Smythe sat as a Member of Parliament for Canterbury from 1841 until 1852, when he was defeated.[2] Along with Disraeli, Manners, and Alexander Baillie-Cochrane, they comprised "Young England", a sect of the Conservative Party which, in espousing a romantic Toryism, was often at odds with the moderate, business-like administration of then-Prime MinisterSir Robert Peel.
Young England finally splintered over the Maynooth Grant. In 1845 Peel proposed to increase the annual subsidy granted to the Catholicseminary at Maynooth, in Ireland. Smythe, possibly under pressure from his father, supported Peel, as did Lord John Manners. Disraeli, then in open rebellion against Peel, opposed the grant. Lord Blake, Disraeli's biographer, noted that Disraeli's speech was "essentially ad hominem" and that Disraeli had a "poor case." In January 1846 Smythe accepted minor office in Peel's government as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Nevertheless, Smythe and Disraeli apparently remained close friends until the former's death. The title character in Disraeli's novel Coningsby was modelled after Smythe, and Smythe wrote to Disraeli in 1852 that "you were of old the Cid and Captain of my boyish fanaticism."
Like his father, Smythe had literary tastes. In 1844 he wrote Historic Fancies, a collection of poems and essays, and his novel Angelo Pisani was published posthumously, with a memoir of the author in 1875.[3]
Smythe's career was shattered later in 1846 when he was caught in a summerhouse with the 21-year-old Lady Dorothy Walpole the daughter of Horatio Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford. Newspaper gossip alleged that he got her pregnant, and then refused to marry her. Lady Dorothy was hastily married off to an elderly cousin. In the nineteenth century, social and political ruin often went hand-in-hand. At his last electoral appearance in 1852, Smythe fought a duel with his fellow MP, Colonel Romilly (the last such encounter in England),[4] and lost the election in a landslide.
Personal lifeEdit
Smythe succeeded to his father's peerage in 1855 and died on 27 November 1857 at the relatively young age of 39 at Bradgate House, Groby, Leicestershire. His title passed to his younger brother, Percy Smythe, 8th Viscount Strangford.
ReferencesEdit
^"Smythe, George (SMT836GA)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Strangford, Viscount s.v. George Augustus Frederick Percy Sydney Smythe". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 983.
george, smythe, viscount, strangford, those, similar, name, george, smyth, disambiguation, april, 1818, november, 1857, styled, honourable, george, smythe, until, 1855, british, conservative, politician, best, known, association, with, benjamin, disraeli, youn. For those of a similar name see George Smyth disambiguation George Smythe 7th Viscount Strangford 16 April 1818 23 November 1857 styled The Honourable George Smythe until 1855 was a British Conservative politician best known for his association with Benjamin Disraeli and the Young England movement He served briefly as Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1846 under Sir Robert Peel The Right HonourableThe Viscount StrangfordUnder Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsIn office 27 January 1846 29 June 1846MonarchVictoriaPrime MinisterSir Robert PeelPreceded byThe Viscount CanningSucceeded byEdward StanleyPersonal detailsBorn16 April 1818Died23 November 1857 1857 11 24 aged 39 NationalityBritish Contents 1 Background and education 2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksBackground and education EditSmythe was born in Stockholm Sweden the son of Percy Smythe 6th Viscount Strangford by Ellen Burke daughter of Sir Thomas Burke He attended Tonbridge School and Eton College and was later admitted to St John s College Cambridge 1 Political career EditSmythe s father had been Disraeli s friend during the 1830s and had sponsored the latter for the Carlton Club along with Lord Chandos The younger Smythe believed in the sort of romantic Toryism espoused by Lord John Manners Both of them were heavily influenced by Frederick Faber an apostle of John Henry Newman leader of the Oxford Movement Disraeli and Smythe had known each other through the latter s father since an early age but it was in the House of Commons that the two became close Smythe sat as a Member of Parliament for Canterbury from 1841 until 1852 when he was defeated 2 Along with Disraeli Manners and Alexander Baillie Cochrane they comprised Young England a sect of the Conservative Party which in espousing a romantic Toryism was often at odds with the moderate business like administration of then Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel nbsp Smythe s grave at Kensal Green Cemetery London pictured in 2014Young England finally splintered over the Maynooth Grant In 1845 Peel proposed to increase the annual subsidy granted to the Catholic seminary at Maynooth in Ireland Smythe possibly under pressure from his father supported Peel as did Lord John Manners Disraeli then in open rebellion against Peel opposed the grant Lord Blake Disraeli s biographer noted that Disraeli s speech was essentially ad hominem and that Disraeli had a poor case In January 1846 Smythe accepted minor office in Peel s government as Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Nevertheless Smythe and Disraeli apparently remained close friends until the former s death The title character in Disraeli s novel Coningsby was modelled after Smythe and Smythe wrote to Disraeli in 1852 that you were of old the Cid and Captain of my boyish fanaticism Like his father Smythe had literary tastes In 1844 he wrote Historic Fancies a collection of poems and essays and his novel Angelo Pisani was published posthumously with a memoir of the author in 1875 3 Smythe s career was shattered later in 1846 when he was caught in a summerhouse with the 21 year old Lady Dorothy Walpole the daughter of Horatio Walpole 3rd Earl of Orford Newspaper gossip alleged that he got her pregnant and then refused to marry her Lady Dorothy was hastily married off to an elderly cousin In the nineteenth century social and political ruin often went hand in hand At his last electoral appearance in 1852 Smythe fought a duel with his fellow MP Colonel Romilly the last such encounter in England 4 and lost the election in a landslide Personal life EditSmythe succeeded to his father s peerage in 1855 and died on 27 November 1857 at the relatively young age of 39 at Bradgate House Groby Leicestershire His title passed to his younger brother Percy Smythe 8th Viscount Strangford References Edit Smythe George SMT836GA A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Constituencies beginning with C part 2 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Strangford Viscount s v George Augustus Frederick Percy Sydney Smythe Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 983 Chisholm 1911 Blake Robert 1966 Disraeli New York St Martin s Press ISBN 0 19 832903 2 OCLC 8047 External links Edit nbsp Biography portalHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by the Viscount StrangfordParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byLord Albert ConynghamJames Bradshaw Member of Parliament for Canterbury1841 1852 With James Bradshaw 1837 47Lord Albert Conyngham 1847 50Frederick Romilly 1850 52 Succeeded byHenry Plumptre GippsHenry Butler JohnstonePolitical officesPreceded byThe Viscount Canning Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs1846 Succeeded byEdward StanleyPeerage of IrelandPreceded byPercy Smythe Viscount Strangford1855 1857 Succeeded byPercy Smythe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Smythe 7th Viscount Strangford amp oldid 1158971992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
