Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Ashburton
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| Member of Parliament for Thetford |
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| In office 1830–1831 Serving with Lord James FitzRoy
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| Member of Parliament for Thetford |
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| In office 1832–1841 Serving with
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| Member of Parliament for Thetford |
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| In office 1848–1857 Serving with Earl of Euston (2)
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| Born | 20 May 1800 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 6 September 1868 (aged 68) |
| Political party | Tory |
| Other political affiliations |
Whig |
| Children | Alexander Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton |
Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton (born May 20, 1800 – died September 6, 1868) was a British nobleman and politician. He was a member of the Whig political party and later the Tory party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Thetford for many years.
Contents
Early Life and Business Career
Francis Baring was born in Philadelphia, United States, on May 20, 1800. His father was Alexander Baring, and his mother was Ann Louisa. Ann Louisa's father, William Bingham, was a wealthy US Senator. Francis was the younger brother of Bingham Baring.
Francis received his education privately and in Geneva. In 1817, he joined Baring Brothers, which was his family's bank. He traveled to North America and the West Indies for business. He was very successful during these trips. Because of his success, he became a partner in the bank in 1823.
However, Francis later made some risky financial decisions. These included investments in land in Mexico and in the French sugar market. Due to these issues, he was given a less important role at the bank in 1828. In 1830, he was given a seat in Parliament that his brother had held.
Political Career in Parliament
Francis Baring began his political career in 1830. He was elected as a Whig Member of Parliament (MP) for Thetford, a town in Norfolk, England. He held this seat until the election in 1831, which he did not take part in.
He was elected again in 1832, this time as a Tory. He continued to represent Thetford as a Conservative MP. He held this position until the 1841 general election, which he also did not contest.
Francis Baring returned to Parliament for Thetford in August 1848. This happened through a special election called a by-election. He continued to serve as an MP until November 30, 1857. He resigned by taking on a special role called Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. This is a traditional way for an MP to leave the House of Commons.
In 1864, Francis Baring became the 3rd Baron Ashburton. This happened after his brother, Bingham Baring, passed away.
Historical Context: Slavery and Compensation
During Francis Baring's lifetime, there were significant changes regarding slavery in the British Empire. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 ended slavery in most British territories. Following this, the Slave Compensation Act 1837 provided money to people who had owned enslaved individuals.
Records from the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership at University College London show that Francis Baring received compensation. He was connected to eight different claims. He had owned 1079 enslaved people in British Guiana. He received about £56,000 in compensation.
Family Life
In 1832, Francis Baring married Claire Hortense. She was born around 1812 and passed away in 1882. Claire Hortense was the daughter of Hugues-Bernard Maret, who was known as the duc de Bassano. After their marriage, Francis and Claire moved to Paris, France.
They had two children:
- Alexander Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton, who later became the 4th Baron Ashburton.
- Marie Anne Louise Baring, who married William FitzRoy, 6th Duke of Grafton.
Legacy and Naming
The town of Ashburton, New Zealand, is named after Francis Baring. He was a member of the Canterbury Association. This group played a role in the settlement of Canterbury, New Zealand.
