John Henniker-Major, 2nd Baron Henniker facts for kids
John Henniker-Major, 2nd Baron Henniker (born April 19, 1752 – died December 4, 1821) was an important person in British politics. He was a "peer," which means he held a special noble title, and he was also a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected by people to represent them in the government.
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Who Was John Henniker-Major?
John Henniker-Major was born into a well-known family. His father was John Henniker, 1st Baron Henniker, who was the first person in their family to hold the title of Baron. His mother was Anne Major.
Early Life and Education
Like many young people from important families at that time, John Henniker-Major went to special schools. He studied at Eton, which is a famous school, and then continued his education at St John's College, Cambridge, a well-known university.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
John Henniker-Major became involved in politics when he was elected to the House of Commons. This is one of the two main parts of the British Parliament, where elected representatives discuss and make laws.
He was first elected as an MP for a place called New Romney in 1785. He served there until 1790. Later, he represented Steyning from 1794 to 1802.
His Role as a Baron
In 1803, John Henniker-Major inherited his father's title and became the second Baron Henniker. However, this title was an "Irish peerage." This meant that even though he was a Baron, his title did not automatically give him a seat in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is the other main part of the British Parliament, usually for people with inherited noble titles.
Because his Irish peerage didn't give him a seat in the House of Lords, he went back to being an MP. He represented Rutland from 1805 to 1812. After that, he was the MP for Stamford between 1812 and 1818.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1792, John Henniker-Major added "Major" to his last name. He did this with special permission from the King, called a "Royal licence."
Lord Henniker passed away in December 1821 when he was 69 years old. After his death, his nephew, John, inherited his titles and became the 3rd Baron Henniker.
