Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl Bathurst
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Portrait of Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst by William Salter
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| President of the Board of Trade | |
| In office 31 March 1807 – 29 September 1812 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Auckland |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Clancarty |
| Foreign Secretary | |
| In office 11 October 1809 – 6 December 1809 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Spencer Perceval |
| Preceded by | George Canning |
| Succeeded by | The Marquess Wellesley |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | |
| In office 11 June 1812 – 30 April 1827 |
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| Monarch | |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Liverpool |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Liverpool |
| Succeeded by | The Viscount Goderich |
| Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 26 January 1828 – 22 November 1830 |
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| Monarch | |
| Prime Minister | The Duke of Wellington |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Portland |
| Succeeded by | The Marquess of Lansdowne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 May 1762 London |
| Died | 27 July 1834 (aged 72) London |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Tory |
| Spouse |
Lady Georgina Lennox
(m. 1789) |
| Children | 7 |
| Parents | Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst Tryphena Scawen |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst (born May 22, 1762 – died July 27, 1834) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Tory party, which was a major political group in Britain at the time. He was a close friend of William Pitt the Younger, who was a famous Prime Minister.
Bathurst served in Parliament for 30 years before he became an Earl. He played a key role in British politics during the Napoleonic Wars and helped make important decisions for the country.
Early Life and Education
Henry Bathurst was the older son of Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst. His mother was Tryphena Scawen. He went to Eton College, a famous school, from 1773 to 1778. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, one of the best colleges at Oxford University.
In 1781, when he was 19, Henry went on a "Grand Tour" of Europe. This was a popular trip for young, wealthy men to learn about other cultures. He traveled through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France. He returned to London in 1783 to start his political career.
Henry admired William Pitt the Younger and his strong love for Britain. He quickly became involved in politics, supporting Pitt's ideas.
A Career in Politics
Henry Bathurst, also known as Lord Apsley before he became an Earl, started his political journey early.
First Steps in Parliament
He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cirencester in July 1783, right after his 21st birthday. He chose not to join the Whig party because of his friendship with the Tory leader, William Pitt the Younger. His first speech in Parliament was against the East India Bill, and it was so good that it helped to bring down the government at the time.
From 1783 to 1789, he worked as a junior civil lord at the Admiralty. This department was in charge of the Royal Navy. He was a strong supporter of Pitt's policies.
Working in the Treasury
In 1790, he was elected again as an MP for Cirencester. He also held a position at the Treasury, where he helped manage the government's money. He was responsible for counting votes in Parliament and keeping track of spending.
In 1791, he voted to end the slave trade, showing his support for this important cause. However, he did not support changing the Test Act in Scotland. This act affected who could hold public office.
Important Government Roles
After his father passed away in 1794, Henry became the 3rd Earl Bathurst. This meant he moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords.
He became the Master of the Mint in 1804. This role involved overseeing the production of coins for the country. He was a trusted friend and advisor to William Pitt.
When Pitt died in 1806, Bathurst briefly left politics. But he soon returned to serve his country.
President of the Board of Trade
In March 1807, Bathurst became the President of the Board of Trade. His main challenge was dealing with Napoleon's "Continental System." This was a plan to stop trade with Britain. Bathurst responded with new trade rules called the Orders-in-Council. These rules aimed to protect British trade.
Foreign Secretary
For a short time in late 1809, he was the Foreign Secretary. This meant he was in charge of Britain's relationships with other countries. During this time, he helped Britain's allies, like Portugal, in their fight against Napoleon.
Secretary of War and the Colonies
From 1812 to 1827, Bathurst held one of his most important roles: Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. This job meant he was in charge of both the military and all of Britain's colonies around the world.
- Supporting the Peninsular War: He helped improve how the Peninsular War was fought against Napoleon in Spain and Portugal.
- Defending Canada: During the War of 1812 with the United States, he focused on defending Canada. He sent troops and resources to protect the border.
- Managing Colonies: He oversaw many colonies, including Canada and Australia. He supported these colonies in becoming more self-governing.
Later Political Life
After 1827, when Lord Liverpool resigned as Prime Minister, Bathurst joined a group called the "Ultra Tories." They were very conservative and did not agree with some new, more liberal ideas.
When the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister in 1828, Bathurst served as Lord President of the Council. This was a less powerful role, but still important.
A High Tory and His Views
Henry Bathurst was known as a "High Tory." This meant he believed strongly in keeping things as they were and preserving the traditional order in Britain and its colonies.
He believed that the government's main job was to maintain stability. He supported farmers and the Corn Laws, which protected British agriculture. As Colonial Secretary, he was careful about introducing new ideas like a free press in the colonies.
He was a hardworking official. He often appointed family members or friends to important positions in the colonies. For example, he sent his brother-in-law, the Duke of Richmond, to be Governor-General of Canada.
Position on Penal Transportation
Bathurst made changes to how the Colonial Office worked, making it more organized. He sent a special team to Australia in 1817 to check on how convicts were being treated. This led to changes in how justice and land were managed in the colony. He believed that sending more settlers to Australia was a good idea.
Position on Slavery
Even though he was not an abolitionist (someone who wanted to end slavery immediately), Bathurst was known for his humane approach. He was friends with William Wilberforce, a famous anti-slavery campaigner. Bathurst pushed his colonial governors to improve the living conditions for enslaved people in the Caribbean.
His efforts to treat people fairly are remembered in the names of places. The town of Bathurst in South Africa was named after him. The capital city of The Gambia, now called Banjul, was originally named Bathurst.
Henry Bathurst was a strong opponent of the Reform Bill of 1832. This bill aimed to make Parliament more fair by giving more people the right to vote. He passed away on July 27, 1834, at the age of 72. He was buried in Cirencester.
Family
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Lord Bathurst married Lady Georgiana Lennox in April 1789. They had seven children together.
- Henry George (1790–1866)
- William Lennox (1791–1878)
- Louisa Georgina (1792–1874)
- Peter George Allen (1794–1796)
- Seymour Thomas (1795–1834)
- Emily Charlotte (1798–1877)
- Rev. Charles (1802–1842)
After Henry Bathurst died in 1834, his eldest son, Henry, became the 4th Earl Bathurst. Lady Bathurst passed away in 1841.
Legacy
Henry Bathurst's impact is still seen today.
Places Named After Him
Many places around the world are named after him, especially in former British colonies:
- Bathurst County, New South Wales, Australia
- Bathurst, a city in New South Wales, Australia
- Bathurst Island, in Northern Territory, Australia
- Bathurst Island, an island in Nunavut, Canada
- Bathurst Street, a street in Toronto, Canada
- Bathurst, a city in New Brunswick, Canada
- Bathurst, a town in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Bathurst, the former name of Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia
