George Brooke-Pechell facts for kids
Sir George Richard Brooke-Pechell (born George Richard Pechell) was an important British figure. He was a high-ranking officer in the Royal Navy and a politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Brighton for 25 years. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government.
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Early Life and Family Background
George Richard Pechell was born on June 30, 1789. His father was Major-General Sir Thomas Brooke-Pechell. His father was also an MP, representing a place called Downton. George's mother was Charlotte.
George had an older brother named Samuel Pechell. Samuel was also a Rear-Admiral in the navy. Samuel inherited a special family title called a "baronetcy." This is a hereditary title, like a knight, that passes down through the family. When Samuel died without children in 1849, George inherited this title.
George Pechell joined the navy in 1803 when he was just 14 years old. He worked hard and rose through the ranks.
- In 1826, he became a Captain.
- In December 1852, he was promoted to rear-admiral on the retired list.
- Finally, on January 5, 1858, he became a vice-admiral.
Political Life as an MP
Sir George Richard Brooke-Pechell was a member of the Whig party. The Whigs were one of the main political groups in Britain at the time.
He first tried to become an MP for Brighton in 1832 but didn't win. However, he tried again in the 1835 general election and won! He kept his seat as an MP until he died on June 29, 1860. This was just one day before his 71st birthday.
In Parliament, Sir George spoke about many different topics. He was especially interested in issues related to the navy and fishing. He also supported:
- The secret ballot: This means people could vote privately without others knowing their choice.
- Non-denominational education: This meant schools should be open to all children, no matter their religion.
- Opposing church rates: These were taxes that people had to pay to support the local church.
Family and Home Life
On August 1, 1826, George married Katherine Annabella Bishopp. She was the daughter of Sir Cecil Bisshopp, the 12th Lord Zouche. They had one son and two daughters together.
From 1825, Brooke-Pechell lived at a place called Castle Goring in Sussex. He first rented the building from Sir Timothy Shelley. Sir Timothy was the father of the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Sir Timothy was also an MP. In 1845, Brooke-Pechell bought Castle Goring from Percy Bysshe Shelley's widow, Mary Shelley.
