Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry
March 04, 2023
Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry, KG,GCVO,CB,PC,JP,DL (16 July 1852 – 8 February 1915), styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1872 and 1884, was a British Conservative politician, landowner and benefactor, who served in various capacities in the Conservative administrations of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After succeeding his father in the marquessate in 1884, he was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland between 1886 and 1889. He later held office as Postmaster General between 1900 and 1902 and as President of the Board of Education between 1902 and 1905. A supporter of the Protestant causes in Ulster, he was an opponent of Irish Home Rule and one of the instigators of the formal alliance between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Unionists in 1893.
He was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for Down in 1878, a seat he held until 1884, when he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords. After the Conservatives came to power in 1886 under Lord Salisbury, Lord Londonderry was sworn of the Privy Council[3] and appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.[3] This was a time of difficulties in Ireland. Gladstone's first Home Rule Bill had just been rejected by parliament and national feelings ran high in Ireland. According to the Dictionary of National Biography, Londonderry "... filled the viceroyalty with tact and courage, so that when he left Dublin in 1889 the discontent had abated and some measure of prosperity had been restored."[1] He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1888[4] and admitted to the Irish Privy Council in 1892. He opposed Gladstone's second Home Rule Bill in 1893 and presided over the meeting which led to the formal political alliance between the Conservatives and the Liberal Unionists.[1]
As a large coal owner in County Durham, he played a major role there. In 1910, he was Mayor of Durham,[2] and he received an honorary degree (D.C.L., 1901) from the University of Durham in recognition of his public services.[11]
He was a great benefactor, patron of agriculture and race-horse owner. King Edward VII was a guest at Londonderry's County Durham seat Wynyard Park on five occasions.[1] In 1903 Londonderry was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) when Edward VII visited Ireland.[2][12]
They had two sons and one daughter. The second son, Lord Charles Stewart Reginald Vane-Tempest-Stewart, died in October 1899, aged 19. The daughter, Lady Helen Mary Theresa, married the 6th Earl of Ilchester.[2]
Londonderry died of pneumonia at Wynyard Park, County Durham,[1] in February 1915, aged 62, with his wife at his bedside. In a letter dated 13 February 1915 (at Durham County Record Office, in the Londonderry Archive) written from Wynyard Park, the grieving Lady Londonderry wrote to her grandson Robin, Lord Stewart, at his school, as follows: "I was so glad to get your darling little letter...You can imagine what it is for me to lose Darling Pa ["Pa" was Robin's name for his grandfather] - you are so understanding you will know, and you will remember what companions he and I always were. I am so glad that the last time you saw him we had those two happy dinners when you and Maureen [Robin's sister] made us laugh so and you saw how bright he was. He caught a little cold, but we did not think anything about it, and afterwards I sent for the doctor and he went to bed and then took pneumonia. On Sunday at lunch time I saw that he was very very ill and he died at 9.30 on Monday morning. I never left him all the time and until the very last he heard my voice. He moved and opened his eyes even after the doctors thought he was insensible...I should so have loved you to have been in the Chapel Wednesday night and Thursday. The services were most beautiful and we had all darling Pa's favourite hymns as you will see from the enclosed leaflets...I want you so much never to forget Darling Pa...I am going to direct this letter to you for the last time in your old name" [Robin had now become Viscount Castlereagh, and ceased using his former courtesy title of Lord Stewart]. The 6th Marquess of Londonderry was succeeded by his elder and only surviving son, Charles. The Marchioness of Londonderry died in March 1919.[2]
charles, vane, tempest, stewart, marquess, londonderry, charles, stewart, vane, tempest, stewart, marquess, londonderry, gcvo, july, 1852, february, 1915, styled, viscount, castlereagh, between, 1872, 1884, british, conservative, politician, landowner, benefac. Charles Stewart Vane Tempest Stewart 6th Marquess of Londonderry KG GCVO CB PC JP DL 16 July 1852 8 February 1915 styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1872 and 1884 was a British Conservative politician landowner and benefactor who served in various capacities in the Conservative administrations of the late 19th and early 20th centuries After succeeding his father in the marquessate in 1884 he was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland between 1886 and 1889 He later held office as Postmaster General between 1900 and 1902 and as President of the Board of Education between 1902 and 1905 A supporter of the Protestant causes in Ulster he was an opponent of Irish Home Rule and one of the instigators of the formal alliance between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Unionists in 1893 The Most HonourableThe Marquess of LondonderryKG GCVO CB PC JP DLLord Londonderry wearing the mantle and collar of a Knight of the Order of Saint Patrick and the insignia of the order s Grand MasterLord President of the CouncilIn office 19 October 1903 11 December 1905MonarchEdward VIIPrime MinisterArthur BalfourPreceded byThe Duke of DevonshireSucceeded byThe Earl of CrewePresident of the Board of EducationIn office 8 August 1902 4 December 1905MonarchEdward VIIPrime MinisterArthur BalfourPreceded byThe Duke of DevonshireSucceeded byAugustine BirrellPostmaster GeneralIn office 10 April 1900 8 August 1902MonarchsVictoriaEdward VIIPrime MinisterThe Marquess of SalisburyArthur BalfourPreceded byThe Duke of NorfolkSucceeded byAusten ChamberlainLord Lieutenant of IrelandIn office 3 August 1886 30 July 1889MonarchVictoriaPreceded byThe Earl of AberdeenSucceeded byThe Earl of ZetlandPersonal detailsBorn 1852 07 16 16 July 1852London United KingdomDied8 February 1915 1915 02 08 aged 62 Wynyard Park Durham United KingdomPolitical partyConservativeSpouseLady Theresa Chetwynd Talbot d 1919 Children3 including Charles Vane Tempest Stewart 7th Marquess of LondonderryParent s George Vane Tempest 5th Marquess of LondonderryMary EdwardsAlma materChrist Church Oxford Contents 1 Background and education 2 Political career 3 Other public appointments 4 Family 5 References 6 External linksBackground and education EditBorn Charles Vane Tempest in London 1 he was the eldest son of George Vane Tempest 5th Marquess of Londonderry by Mary Cornelia only daughter of Sir John Edwards 1st Baronet who lived primarily at Plas Machynlleth He was the grandson of the third Marquess and the great nephew of the second Marquess better known as the statesman Lord Castlereagh To mark his 21st birthday the people of Machynlleth erected a clock tower in the centre of the town George Spencer Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough and his brother Lord Randolph Churchill were his first cousins 2 He was educated at Eton 1 2 the National University of Ireland 1 and Christ Church Oxford He became known by the courtesy title of Viscount Castlereagh when his father succeeded to the marquessate of Londonderry in 1872 In 1885 he assumed the original and additional surname of Stewart by Royal licence 1 2 Political career Edit Portrait photograph by John Thomas c 1885 Caricature by FTD for Vanity Fair 1896 He was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for Down in 1878 a seat he held until 1884 when he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords After the Conservatives came to power in 1886 under Lord Salisbury Lord Londonderry was sworn of the Privy Council 3 and appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 3 This was a time of difficulties in Ireland Gladstone s first Home Rule Bill had just been rejected by parliament and national feelings ran high in Ireland According to the Dictionary of National Biography Londonderry filled the viceroyalty with tact and courage so that when he left Dublin in 1889 the discontent had abated and some measure of prosperity had been restored 1 He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1888 4 and admitted to the Irish Privy Council in 1892 He opposed Gladstone s second Home Rule Bill in 1893 and presided over the meeting which led to the formal political alliance between the Conservatives and the Liberal Unionists 1 From 1895 to 1897 Londonderry was Chairman of the London School Board He returned to the government in April 1900 when Salisbury made him Postmaster General and became a member of the cabinet in November of that year After Arthur Balfour became prime minister in August 1902 Londonderry became President of the Board of Education 5 6 In this role he oversaw the Education Act 1902 Between 1903 and 1905 he was also Lord President of the Council The Unionists fell in December 1905 and Londonderry subsequently focused mostly on Irish affairs He was one of the scuttlers as Leo Maxse termed them who did not vote against the Parliament Act 1911 As president of the Ulster Unionist council he opposed the third Home Rule Bill proposed by the Liberal government in 1912 and was the second signatory to the Ulster Covenant after Sir Edward Carson 1 Other public appointments EditLord Londonderry was Lord Lieutenant of Belfast from 1900 to 1904 and Lord Lieutenant of Down from 1902 to 1915 a Deputy Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire and County Durham and a Justice of the Peace for County Durham On 24 June 1869 just before his 17th birthday he was commissioned as Major in the 2nd Seaham Durham Artillery Volunteer Corps a part time unit commanded by his father and recruited mainly from the family s Seaham Colliery On the same day his 15 year old younger brother was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant their uncle also served in the unit 7 8 9 He succeeded his father in command in 1876 and was still in command of the unit when it transferred to the Territorial Force in 1908 as the 3rd Northumbrian County of Durham Brigade Royal Field Artillery of which he became Honorary Colonel on 7 December 1910 8 He was also appointed to the Honorary Colonelcy of the 3rd Militia Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles on 26 March 1902 10 As a large coal owner in County Durham he played a major role there In 1910 he was Mayor of Durham 2 and he received an honorary degree D C L 1901 from the University of Durham in recognition of his public services 11 He was a great benefactor patron of agriculture and race horse owner King Edward VII was a guest at Londonderry s County Durham seat Wynyard Park on five occasions 1 In 1903 Londonderry was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order GCVO when Edward VII visited Ireland 2 12 Family Edit Portrait of his wife He married Lady Theresa Susey Helen Talbot daughter of Charles Chetwynd Talbot 19th Earl of Shrewsbury at the private chapel of Alton Hall in 1875 Like her husband she was a leading Unionist campaigner and President of the Ulster Women s Unionist Council 13 They had two sons and one daughter The second son Lord Charles Stewart Reginald Vane Tempest Stewart died in October 1899 aged 19 The daughter Lady Helen Mary Theresa married the 6th Earl of Ilchester 2 Londonderry died of pneumonia at Wynyard Park County Durham 1 in February 1915 aged 62 with his wife at his bedside In a letter dated 13 February 1915 at Durham County Record Office in the Londonderry Archive written from Wynyard Park the grieving Lady Londonderry wrote to her grandson Robin Lord Stewart at his school as follows I was so glad to get your darling little letter You can imagine what it is for me to lose Darling Pa Pa was Robin s name for his grandfather you are so understanding you will know and you will remember what companions he and I always were I am so glad that the last time you saw him we had those two happy dinners when you and Maureen Robin s sister made us laugh so and you saw how bright he was He caught a little cold but we did not think anything about it and afterwards I sent for the doctor and he went to bed and then took pneumonia On Sunday at lunch time I saw that he was very very ill and he died at 9 30 on Monday morning I never left him all the time and until the very last he heard my voice He moved and opened his eyes even after the doctors thought he was insensible I should so have loved you to have been in the Chapel Wednesday night and Thursday The services were most beautiful and we had all darling Pa s favourite hymns as you will see from the enclosed leaflets I want you so much never to forget Darling Pa I am going to direct this letter to you for the last time in your old name Robin had now become Viscount Castlereagh and ceased using his former courtesy title of Lord Stewart The 6th Marquess of Londonderry was succeeded by his elder and only surviving son Charles The Marchioness of Londonderry died in March 1919 2 References Edit a b c d e f g h i The Dictionary of National Biography a b c d e f g thepeerage com Charles Stewart Vane Tempest Stewart 6th Marquess of Londonderry a b No 25614 The London Gazette 6 August 1886 p 3779 No 25816 The London Gazette 15 May 1888 p 2766 Mr Balfour s Ministry full list of appointments The Times No 36842 London 9 August 1902 p 5 No 27464 The London Gazette 12 August 1902 p 5175 London Gazette 16 July 1869 a b Army List various dates Ian F W Beckett Riflemen Form A Study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859 1908 Aldershot Ogilby Trusts 1982 ISBN 0 85936 271 X p 62 No 27419 The London Gazette 25 March 1902 p 2080 University intelligence The Times No 36635 London 11 December 1901 p 6 Page 5057 Issue 27586 11 August 1903 London Gazette the Gazette Ulster Covenant Women s signature role in the fight against Home Rule Belfast Telegraph External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Vane Tempest Stewart 6th Marquess of Londonderry Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by the Marquess of Londonderry Londonderry Charles Stewart Vane Tempest Stewart 6th Marquess of Encyclopaedia Britannica 12th ed 1922 Parliament of the United KingdomPreceded byJames Sharman Crawford Lord Edwin Hill Trevor Member of Parliament for Down1878 1884 With Lord Edwin Hill Trevor 1878 1880Lord Arthur Hill 1880 1884 Succeeded byLord Arthur Hill Richard KerPolitical officesPreceded byThe Earl of Aberdeen Lord Lieutenant of Ireland1886 1889 Succeeded byThe Earl of ZetlandPreceded byThe Duke of Norfolk Postmaster General1900 1902 Succeeded byAusten ChamberlainPreceded byThe Duke of Devonshire President of the Board of Education1902 1905 Succeeded byAugustine BirrellPreceded byThe Duke of Devonshire Lord President of the Council1903 1905 Succeeded byThe Earl of CreweGovernment officesPreceded byLord George Hamilton Chairman of the London School Board1895 1897 Succeeded byThe Lord ReayHonorary titlesNew office Lord Lieutenant of Belfast1900 1904 Succeeded byThe Earl of ShaftesburyPreceded byThe Marquess of Dufferin and Ava Lord Lieutenant of Down1902 1915 Succeeded byThe Marquess of LondonderryPeerage of IrelandPreceded byGeorge Vane Tempest Marquess of Londonderry1884 1915 Succeeded byCharles Vane Tempest Stewart Retrieved from https en 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