Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Brabourne
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"A promising apprentice". Knatchbull-Hugessen M.P. as caricatured by Ape (Carlo Pellegrini) in Vanity Fair, June 1870.
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| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | |
| In office 25 May 1866 – 26 June 1866 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl Russell |
| Preceded by | Hon. Thomas Baring |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Belmore |
| In office 10 December 1868 – 11 January 1871 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Bt |
| Succeeded by | George Shaw-Lefevre |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 14 January 1871 – 17 February 1874 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | William Monsell |
| Succeeded by | James Lowther |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 April 1829 |
| Died | 6 February 1893 (aged 63) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal (to 1880), Conservative (after 1880) |
| Spouses | (1) Anna Maria Elizabeth Southwell (d. 1889) (2) Ethel Mary Walker |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne (born 29 April 1829 – died 6 February 1893) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and later the Conservative Party. He held several key government jobs. For example, he was an Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department and an Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. In 1880, he was given the special title of Baron Brabourne.
Contents
Who Was Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen?
Early Life and School Days
Edward Hugessen Knatchbull was born on April 29, 1829. His father was Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet, who worked as a Paymaster-General twice. Edward's mother, Fanny Catherine Knight, was the niece of the famous author Jane Austen.
In 1849, Edward added "Hugessen" to his last name. This was his grandmother's maiden name. He went to Eton, a well-known school. Later, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. While there, he became the President of the Oxford Union, which is a famous debating society.
His Political Journey
In 1857, Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sandwich. He kept this job until 1880.
He worked in different government roles:
- From 1859 to 1860, he was a Lord of the Treasury under Lord Palmerston.
- In 1866, he was an Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs under Lord Russell.
- From 1868 to 1871, he continued as Under-Secretary for Home Affairs under Gladstone.
- From 1871 to 1874, he served as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under Gladstone.
In 1873, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. In 1880, he was given the title of Baron Brabourne. This meant he became a peer and could sit in the House of Lords. After this, he joined the Conservative Party. He disagreed with some of the policies of other politicians like Joseph Chamberlain.
Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen's Books
Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories
Even though he was a busy politician, Knatchbull-Hugessen also loved to write. He wrote many fantasy and fairy stories. These stories are not widely read today, but they were very popular when he wrote them.
He published one or two books of these stories almost every year from 1869 to 1894. Some say he wrote 12 books, while others say 15. His books were big hits, especially around Christmas time. Famous artists like Gustav Doré and Richard Doyle drew pictures for his books.
The Times newspaper said his stories were "of a very high order." They praised his writing and imagination. Reviewers often compared him to famous fairy tale writers like the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. One critic even wondered if he was spending too much time with fairies instead of his government job!
A Famous Fan: J. R. R. Tolkien
Did you know that J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, read Knatchbull-Hugessen's stories as a child? In a letter from 1971, Tolkien remembered his parents reading him these fairy tales before bed. He especially recalled a story about an ogre who disguised himself as a tree to catch his dinner.
Editing Jane Austen's Letters
Knatchbull-Hugessen also played a role in preserving history. He edited the very first collection of letters written by his great-aunt, the novelist Jane Austen. This book was published in 1884. It included about two-thirds of all her letters that still existed. He dedicated the book to Queen Victoria. He received these letters after his mother passed away in 1882.
His Final Years
Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen died on February 6, 1893, at a place called Smeeth Paddocks. He was buried a few days later, on February 9, in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin Church in Smeeth, Kent.
His Family
Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen was married twice.
His first wife was Anna Maria Elizabeth Southwell. They married on October 19, 1852. They had four children:
- Hon. Katharine Cecilia Knatchbull-Hugessen (died 1926).
- Hon. Eva Mary Knatchbull-Hugessen (died 1895).
- Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen, 2nd Baron Brabourne (1857–1909).
- Cecil Marcus Knatchbull-Hugessen, 4th Baron Brabourne (1863–1933).
Anna Maria Elizabeth died in 1889. A year later, on June 3, 1890, Lord Brabourne married his second wife, Ethel Mary Walker. She was the daughter of Colonel Sir George Gustavus Walker. They had two children:
- Hon. Adrian Norton Knatchbull-Hugessen (1891–1976).
- Hon. Alicia Mary Dorothea Knatchbull-Hugessen (1893–1974).
After Lord Brabourne passed away, his eldest son from his first marriage, Edward, inherited his title.
