Henry Primrose facts for kids

Sir Henry William Primrose (born August 22, 1846 – died June 17, 1923) was an important Scottish government worker. He joined the Treasury, which manages the government's money, in 1869. He also worked as a private secretary for important leaders, including the Viceroy of India and Prime Minister William Gladstone. Later, he became the head of the Office of Works and then the chairman of the Inland Revenue, which collects taxes.

When he was young, Henry Primrose also played football! He played one game for a Scottish team against England in November 1870.

Early Life and School

Henry Primrose was born in Dalmeny, near Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the second of six sons. His father was Bouverie Francis Primrose, and his mother was Frederica Sophia Anson.

His family had important connections. His grandfather was the 4th Earl of Rosebery. One of his brothers, Gilbert Edward Primrose, also played football for Scotland. Another brother, George Anson Primrose, became a high-ranking officer in the navy.

Henry went to school at Trinity College, Glenalmond, from 1855 to 1864. He was very good at sports there, leading both the school's football and cricket teams. In 1864, he went to Balliol College at Oxford University, where he studied history and law.

His Family

On November 2, 1888, Henry Primrose married Helen Mary Walker. Lady Primrose had children from her previous marriages. These included:

• Anna Maria Heywood Denman, who married Sir John Emmott Barlow. He was a Member of Parliament (M.P.).
• Thomas Denman, who became the Governor-General of Australia.
• Richard Douglas Denman, who also became a Member of Parliament.

Henry and Helen had one child together:

• Archibald Henry Reginald Primrose, born in 1889.

Lady Primrose passed away in 1919.

Football Player

When he was young, Henry Primrose played for the Civil Service Football Club. In November 1870, he was chosen to play for Scotland in a special international match against England. His team captain, James Kirkpatrick, also worked in the civil service. Henry played as a forward in the game, which England won by one goal.

He was asked to play in more matches, but he was not able to.

Working for the Government

After finishing university, Henry Primrose started working for the government in 1869 at the Treasury. In 1880, he worked for Prime Minister William Gladstone for a short time. Then, he went to India to be a secretary for Lord Ripon, who was the Viceroy of India. The Viceroy was like the British ruler of India at that time. In 1885, Henry received an award called "Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India" for his work.

When Lord Ripon's time in India ended in 1884, Henry returned to work with Gladstone. He became the head of Gladstone's office in Downing Street. He was known for giving useful information to his cousin, Rosebery, who was then the foreign secretary.

In 1886, Henry was made Secretary to the Office of Works. This office was in charge of government buildings and public works. In 1895, he received another award, "Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath."

At the Treasury

In 1895, Henry Primrose went back to the Treasury. He became a Commissioner of Her Majesty's Customs, which collected taxes on goods. Later, he became the chairman of this group.

Henry Primrose was one of the former secretaries who attended Prime Minister Gladstone's funeral in 1898.

In 1899, he was given an even higher award, "Knight Commander of the Order of The Bath." Soon after, he became the chairman of the Inland Revenue board. This board was responsible for collecting taxes from people and businesses. He stayed in this important role until he retired in 1907, at the age of 61.

At the Treasury, Henry was known for sticking to older ideas about how the government should manage money and taxes. He believed that sometimes, especially in emergencies, the government needed to collect taxes in different ways. He also thought that taxes on inherited money were a bit like a delayed income tax.

After Retirement

Even after retiring, Henry Primrose stayed busy helping the public. He served on many different government groups and committees. People described him as a "distinguished and valuable public servant" who wrote very clear reports.

He was the chairman of the Commercial Pacific Cable Company from 1907 to 1914. He also worked as a director for another company.

He was asked to lead a group looking into how money was shared between the main government in India and the local governments. However, he left this role after a month.

In 1911, he led a committee about the financial plans for the Irish Home Rule Bill. This bill was about giving Ireland more control over its own government. Henry suggested that the Irish government should control its own money, with some help from the British government. However, his plan was not chosen because it was thought to give Ireland too much financial freedom.

He also served on other important committees, including one about the civil service in 1912 and another about railways in 1913.

In 1914, Henry Primrose became chairman of a group looking into the Welsh church. He also chaired a group that looked into the supply of sugar after the First World War. In 1918, he was part of a committee that looked at reducing staff in government offices.

In June 1912, he was given a special honor by being sworn into the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. This was quite unusual for a government worker.

Death

Sir Henry William Primrose passed away on June 17, 1923, in Kensington Gardens.