John Freeman-Mitford, 1st Earl of Redesdale facts for kids

John Thomas Freeman-Mitford, 1st Earl of Redesdale (born 9 September 1805 – died 2 May 1886), was an important figure in British politics. He was a Protestant who often spoke out on religious topics. He was also a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament.

Early Life and Education

John Thomas Freeman-Mitford was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 9 September 1805. His father was John Freeman-Mitford, who was the 1st Baron Redesdale.

Young John went to school at Eton College, a famous boarding school. Later, he studied at New College, Oxford University. He earned his first degree in 1825 and a master's degree in 1828. He also received a special doctorate degree in 1853.

Role in the House of Lords

When his father passed away in 1830, John became the 2nd Baron Redesdale. This meant he inherited his father's seat in the House of Lords. At first, he didn't speak much in the debates. But from 1837, he started to take a keen interest in how new laws were written.

A famous leader named Wellington suggested that John should learn about the "private business" of the House. This meant focusing on bills that affected specific people or companies, like building a new railway. This training helped him become the chairman of committees.

In 1851, he was chosen to lead the committees that looked at these private bills. He did this job very well until he died. He was known for being very careful and fair. He made sure that private bills were handled correctly. He was also known for being very strict, but he always made fair decisions. His strong and honest leadership made the House of Lords more respected in handling these matters.

Speaking Out on Beliefs

Lord Redesdale was very interested in religious topics. He held strong Protestant beliefs. He often wrote and spoke about these views.

For example, he disagreed with the idea of divorce because he believed it went against what the Bible said. He wrote a pamphlet called 'The Law of Scripture against Divorce' in 1856. He also strongly opposed a law that would have allowed divorce.

He also spoke out against removing the official status of the Irish church. He believed this went against the promise the monarch makes when they are crowned. He even asked for a copy of the coronation oath in the House of Lords.

In 1875, he had a public debate with Cardinal Manning in a newspaper. They discussed a religious practice called "communion in both kinds." This debate showed how clever Lord Redesdale was in arguing his points.

In 1877, he was given an even higher title: Earl of Redesdale. This was suggested by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli.

Later that year, he brought attention to a book called 'The Priest in Absolution' in the House of Lords. This book was for clergy members. He helped get a strong statement against its teachings from the Archbishop.

Lord Redesdale also wrote about English poetry and translated works from the Roman poet Horace. He tried to create rules for English poetry based on Latin styles.

He passed away on 2 May 1886. He never married, so his titles ended with him. He left his properties to his relative, Algernon Freeman-Mitford. The title of Baron Redesdale was later created again for Algernon in 1902.

Images for kids

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  Lord Redesdale, by Carlo Pellegrini, 1875.