Henry de Worms, 1st Baron Pirbright facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Pirbright PC, DL, JP, FRS
Portrait by Sándor Liezen-Mayer, 1880s
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
In office 20 February 1888 – 1892
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by	The Earl of Onslow
Succeeded by	Sydney Buxton
Personal details
Born	(1840-10-26)26 October 1840 London
Died	9 January 1903(1903-01-09) (aged 62) London
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouses	(1) Fanny von Todesco (2) Sarah Phillips (died 1914)
Alma mater	King's College London

Henry de Worms, 1st Baron Pirbright (born 20 October 1840 – died 9 January 1903) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. Before 1895, he was known as Baron Henry de Worms. He held several important roles in the government of Queen Victoria.

Early Life and Education

Henry de Worms was born in London on 20 October 1840. He was the third son of Solomon Benedict de Worms. His father owned large plantations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). His family was very wealthy and had strong connections to the famous Rothschild banking family. His great-grandfather was Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who started the Rothschild banking business.

Henry de Worms studied at King's College London. In 1863, he became a lawyer, joining the Inner Temple. He also became a fellow of King's College in the same year.

Political Career and Achievements

Henry de Worms was a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for different areas. He represented Greenwich from 1880 to 1885. Then, he represented Liverpool East Toxteth from 1885 to 1895.

He served in the government under Lord Salisbury.

• From 1886 to 1888, he was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade.
• From 1888 to 1892, he was the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. This role involved helping to manage Britain's colonies around the world.

In 1888, he was the British representative and president of a conference about sugar. He also helped manage the Patriotic Fund, which supported military families.

Henry de Worms became a Privy Counsellor in 1888. This is a special group of advisors to the monarch. In 1895, he was given the title of Baron Pirbright. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords. He was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1889, which is a big honor for scientists.

He wrote several books, including England's Policy in the East and The Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Lord Pirbright passed away in London on 9 January 1903, when he was 62 years old.

Family Life

Lord Pirbright was married twice.

• In 1864, he married Franziska "Fanny" von Todesco. She was from a noble family in Vienna. They had three daughters:
  • Alice Henrietta Antoinette (born 1865)
  • Dora Sophia Emily (born 1869)
  • Constance Valérie Sophie (born 1875)
• In 1887, he married Sarah Phillips. Her father and brother had both served as Lord Mayors of London.

Henry de Worms was born into a Jewish family. Later in his life, he became a Christian. He was buried in a Christian cemetery at St. Mark's Church in Wyke, Surrey.

Since Lord Pirbright did not have any sons, his title of Baron Pirbright ended when he died. His second wife passed away in 1914.

Images for kids

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  Lord Pirbright's tomb at St Mark's Church, Wyke, Surrey