Henry Fowler, 1st Viscount Wolverhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount Wolverhampton
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Secretary of State for India | |
| In office 10 March 1894 – 21 June 1895 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Rosebery |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Kimberley |
| Succeeded by | Lord George Hamilton |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 10 December 1905 – 13 October 1908 |
|
| Monarch | Edward VII |
| Prime Minister | Henry Campbell-Bannerman H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | Sir William Walrond, Bt |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Fitzmaurice |
| Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 13 October 1908 – 16 June 1910 |
|
| Monarch | Edward VII George V |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | The Lord Tweedmouth |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Beauchamp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 May 1830 Sunderland, County Durham. England |
| Died | 25 February 1911 (aged 80) Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Ellen Thorneycroft |
| Children | Ellen, Edith, and Henry |
Henry Hartley Fowler, 1st Viscount Wolverhampton (born May 16, 1830 – died February 25, 1911) was an important British politician. He was a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. He was also a member of the Liberal Party.
Henry Fowler made history in a few ways. He was the first solicitor to join the Cabinet, which is a group of top government ministers. He was also the first person from the Methodist Church to become a Cabinet member or to be given a special title called a peerage.
Contents
Early Life and Local Work
Henry Fowler was born in Sunderland, England. His father was a reverend. Henry went to school at Woodhouse Grove School and St. Saviour's Grammar School.
After finishing school, he moved to Wolverhampton. In 1852, he became a solicitor. He was very active in his local community.
- He served as a local councillor.
- He became the Mayor of Wolverhampton in 1866.
- In 1870, he was the chairman of the Wolverhampton School Board.
- He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Staffordshire and a JP (Justice of the Peace) for Wolverhampton. These roles involved local administration and keeping order.
A Career in Politics
Henry Fowler began his national political career in 1880. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the town of Wolverhampton. He held this seat for many years.
Key Government Roles
Fowler served in several important government positions:
- From 1884 to 1885, he was an Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.
- In 1886, he became the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. This role involved managing government money.
- From 1892 to 1894, he was the President of the Local Government Board. This job focused on local government issues.
- From 1894 to 1895, he served as Secretary of State for India. This was a very important role dealing with British India.
In 1886, he joined the Privy Council. This is a group of advisors to the British monarch.
Later Political Life
Later, Henry Fowler continued to hold high offices.
- From 1905 to 1908, he was the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
- In 1908, he received a special honor. He was given the title Viscount Wolverhampton. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords.
- After becoming a Viscount, he served as Lord President of the Council until 1910.
Many people believed he could have become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. However, his health issues prevented him from taking on this top role.
Views on Policy
Henry Fowler supported new laws that would help people. He was in favor of reforms in areas like:
- Pensions, which are payments to people after they retire.
- Education, to improve schooling.
- The Poor Law, which dealt with poverty.
He was also the elected President of The Law Society from 1901 to 1902. This is a professional body for solicitors in England and Wales.
Lord Wolverhampton passed away on February 25, 1911, when he was 80 years old.
Family Life
In 1857, Henry Fowler married Ellen Thorneycroft. Her father, George Benjamin Thorneycroft, was an ironmaster and the first Mayor of Wolverhampton.
Henry and Ellen had three children:
- A son named Henry, who later inherited his father's title.
- Two daughters, Ellen and Edith. Both of his daughters became authors. Edith even wrote a book about her father's life.
Images for kids
-
A coronet, a type of crown worn by a Viscount.
-
The coat of arms for Viscount Wolverhampton.
