George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Clarendon
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The 4th Earl of Clarendon, c. 1860s
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| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 21 February 1853 – 26 February 1858 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Aberdeen The Viscount Palmerston |
| Preceded by | Lord John Russell |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Malmesbury |
| In office 3 November 1865 – 6 July 1866 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl Russell |
| Preceded by | The Earl Russell |
| Succeeded by | Lord Stanley |
| In office 9 December 1868 – 27 June 1870 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | Lord Stanley |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Granville |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 31 October 1840 – 23 June 1841 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Melbourne |
| Preceded by | The Lord Holland |
| Succeeded by | Sir George Grey |
| In office 7 April 1864 – 3 November 1865 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Palmerston The Earl Russell |
| Preceded by | Edward Cardwell |
| Succeeded by | George Goschen |
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | |
| In office 22 May 1847 – 1 March 1852 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Lord John Russell |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Bessborough |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Eglinton |
| President of the Board of Trade | |
| In office 6 July 1846 – 22 July 1847 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Lord John Russell |
| Preceded by | The Marquess of Dalhousie |
| Succeeded by | Henry Labouchere |
| Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | |
| In office 15 January 1840 – 30 August 1841 |
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| Prime Minister | The Viscount Melbourne |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Bessborough |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 January 1800 London, England |
| Died | 27 June 1870 (aged 70) London, England |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Lady Katherine Grimston
(m. 1839) |
| Children | 8 |
| Parents | George Villiers Theresa Parker |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
| Signature |  |
George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (born 12 January 1800, died 27 June 1870) was an important English diplomat and politician. He came from the Villiers family.
He served as the Foreign Secretary three times. This role is like being the country's top diplomat, dealing with other nations. He was also the main British representative at the Congress of Paris. This meeting helped end the Crimean War.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Villiers was born in London, England. His parents were George Villiers and Theresa Parker. He started studying at Cambridge University when he was just sixteen. He joined St John's College in 1816. By 1820, he earned his Master of Arts (MA) degree.
A Career in Diplomacy and Politics
In 1820, George Villiers became an assistant at the British embassy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He stayed there for three years. This experience taught him a lot about diplomacy. People described him as handsome, charming, good with languages, and a strong writer.
After returning to England in 1823, he worked for the customs office for about ten years. In 1831, he went to France to try and make a trade agreement, but it didn't work out.
Serving as Minister in Spain
On 16 August 1833, Villiers became the British minister (a type of ambassador) in Madrid, Spain. Soon after he arrived, King Ferdinand VII died. His young daughter, Isabella, became Queen. However, her uncle, Don Carlos, challenged her claim to the throne. This led to a civil war in Spain.
Villiers supported Queen Isabella and her mother, Queen Regent Christina. They represented a more modern, constitutional government. Don Carlos wanted to keep the old, absolute monarchy. Britain and France agreed to support the constitutional governments in Spain and Portugal.
For six years, Villiers worked to help Spain's Liberal government. He supported leaders like Espartero. The main goal was to establish Isabella as Queen with a strong, national government.
Villiers also worked to end slavery in Spanish colonies. Slavery had been illegal since 1820 but was still happening. With help from a newspaper correspondent, he pushed Spain to keep its promise to end slavery in 1835.
Becoming Earl of Clarendon and Taking on New Roles
In 1838, Villiers received a special honour, the Grand Cross of the Bath, for his work in Spain. The next year, his uncle died, and he became the Earl of Clarendon. He also married Lady Katharine Foster-Barham.
In January 1840, he joined Lord Melbourne's government as Lord Privy Seal. This was an important government position. He also became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until 1841. He believed that good relations between Britain and France were important for peace in Europe.
During Sir Robert Peel's government (1841–1846), Lord Clarendon strongly supported free trade. He wanted to get rid of the Corn Laws, which were taxes on imported grain. His younger brother, Charles Pelham Villiers, was a big supporter of this idea. In 1846, Clarendon became President of the Board of Trade in Lord John Russell's government. This role involved managing trade and business.
Leading Ireland During a Crisis
Clarendon was offered the top job in India and Canada, but he turned them down. He wanted to stay involved in British and European politics.
In 1847, he agreed to become the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. This was a very challenging time because of the Great Famine. There was a lot of unrest and crime. The government needed strong measures to keep control. When the French Revolution of 1848 happened, it inspired more trouble in Ireland, leading to a small rebellion.
Lord Clarendon stayed in Ireland until 1852. His efforts were praised by the Queen in a speech to Parliament. This was a rare honour for a government official. He also received another high honour, becoming a Knight of the Garter in 1849.
Serving as Foreign Secretary Three Times
In January 1853, Clarendon became Foreign Secretary for the first time. This was in Lord Aberdeen's government. At this time, Britain was slowly heading towards the Crimean War. Clarendon supported the war and worked closely with the French Emperor Napoleon III.
When the Crimean War ended in 1856, Lord Clarendon was the main British representative at the Congress of Paris. This meeting was held to create a peace treaty. It was unusual for a British Foreign Secretary to attend such a conference in person.
Clarendon made sure that Piedmont-Sardinia (an Italian state) was allowed to join the conference as an ally. He also made sure that Prussia, which had stayed neutral, was not included. Clarendon helped ensure that the Black Sea was made neutral, meaning no warships could be there. The conference also created the Declaration of the Maritime Powers. This agreement made privateering (private ships attacking enemy ships) illegal. It also set rules for blockades and capturing enemy property at sea.
When Lord Palmerston formed a new government in 1859, Clarendon couldn't be Foreign Secretary again. However, he returned to the government in May 1864. He served as Foreign Secretary a second time from 1865 to 1866. He then served a third time in Gladstone's government, which started in 1868. He died on 27 June 1870, while still working in his office.
Family Life
On 4 June 1839, George Villiers married Lady Katherine Foster-Barham. She was the daughter of James Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam. They had eight children together:
- Lady Constance Villiers (1840–1922), who married Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby.
- Lady Alice Villiers (1841–1897), who married Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom.
- Lady Emily Theresa (1843–1927), who married Odo Russell, 1st Baron Ampthill.
- Edward Hyde, Lord Hyde (1845–1846).
- Edward Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon (1846–1914).
- Hon. George Patrick Hyde (1847–1892).
- Lady Florence Margaret (1850–1851).
- Hon. Francis Hyde Villiers (1852–1925).
