Francis Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Wemyss and March
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The Earl of Wemyss and March, by John Singer Sargent, 1909.
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| Member of Parliament for Haddingtonshire | |
| In office 1847–1883 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Thomas Buchan-Hepburn |
| Succeeded by | Lord Elcho |
| Junior Lord of the Treasury | |
| In office 1853–1855 |
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| Succeeded by |
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| Member of Parliament for East Gloucestershire | |
| In office 1841–1846 Serving with Sir Christopher Codrington
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| Personal details | |
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Francis Richard Charteris
4 August 1818 |
| Died | 30 June 1914 (aged 95) |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouses |
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| Parent | Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss |
| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Francis Richard Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss (pronounced weems, like "seems") was an important British politician. He was born on August 4, 1818, and passed away on June 30, 1914. For many years, he was known as Lord Elcho. He was a member of the Whig Party, which was a major political group in Britain at the time. He is also remembered for starting the Liberty and Property Defence League, an organization that supported individual freedom and property rights.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Francis Richard Charteris was the oldest son of Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss and Lady Louisa Bingham. He had a younger brother, Richard Charteris, and a sister, Lady Louisa Wemyss-Charteris.
He attended Eton College, a famous boarding school in England. After Eton, he went on to study at Christ Church, Oxford, one of the colleges at the University of Oxford. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from there.
Political and Public Career
Francis Charteris had a long and active career in public service. He held several important roles throughout his life.
Serving in Parliament
As Lord Elcho, he became a Member of Parliament (MP). This meant he was elected to represent people in the British government. He served as an MP for different areas, including East Gloucestershire and Haddingtonshire. He also held a position as a Junior Lord of the Treasury for a few years. This role involved helping to manage the government's money.
Military and Other Interests
Lord Elcho was very involved in military matters. For 17 years, he was the commanding officer of the London Scottish Rifles Volunteers. This was a volunteer military group that he helped form in 1859. He even helped design a special type of sword bayonet called the Elcho bayonet.
He was also a member of the Canterbury Association starting in 1848. This group was involved in helping to settle and develop the region of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Francis Charteris also had a strong interest in Homeopathy, which is an alternative medical practice. He believed it helped him stay healthy. He even became the President of the London Homeopathic Hospital. He once wrote that he believed homeopathy contributed greatly to his well-being, especially as he got older.
Later Years and Titles
In 1883, when his father passed away, Francis Charteris inherited the title of Earl of Wemyss and March. Before this, he was always known as Lord Elcho.
He also served as an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to two British monarchs. He was an aide to Queen Victoria from 1881 to 1901, and then to King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Haddington and Selkirk, which is a ceremonial role in a county.
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Lord Elcho
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Lord Elcho by Carlo Pellegrini, 1870.
Family Life
On August 29, 1843, Francis Charteris married Lady Anne Frederica Anson. She was the daughter of Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield. They lived in a large house at 64 Queen Street in Edinburgh.
Together, Francis and Anne had nine children, six sons and three daughters:
- Francis Charteris (1844–1870)
- Arthur Charteris (1846–1847)
- Alfred Walter Charteris (1847–1873)
- Lady Evelyn Charteris (1849–1939)
- Lady Lilian Harriet Charteris (1851–1914)
- Lady Hilda Charteris (1854–1901)
- Hugo Richard Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss (1857–1937)
- Alan Dudley Charteris (1860–1901)
- Sir Evan Edward Charteris (1864–1940)
After Lady Anne passed away in 1896, Francis Charteris married again in December 1900 to Grace Blackburn.
Lord Wemyss lived to be a very old man, passing away on June 30, 1914, at the age of 95.
Legacy
A place called Charteris Bay in Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand, was named after him. This was to honor his work with the Canterbury Association in helping to settle the area.
