Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Bexley
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Portrait, oil on canvas, of Lord Bexley by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
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| Chancellor of the Exchequer | |
| In office 12 May 1812 – 31 January 1823 |
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| Monarch | George III George IV |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Liverpool |
| Preceded by | Spencer Perceval |
| Succeeded by | F. J. Robinson |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 13 February 1823 – 26 January 1828 |
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| Monarch | George IV |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Liverpool George Canning Viscount Goderich |
| Preceded by | Charles Bathurst |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Aberdeen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 April 1766 Bloomsbury, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 8 February 1851 (aged 84) Foots Cray, Kent, England |
| Political party | Tory |
| Spouses | Catherine Isabella Eden (1778–1810) |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley (born April 29, 1766 – died February 8, 1851) was an important English politician. He served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a long time, making him one of the longest-serving in British history. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is like the chief financial officer for the country, managing its money and taxes.
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Early Life and Education
Nicholas Vansittart was born in Bloomsbury, Middlesex, England. He was the fifth son of Henry Vansittart, who was the Governor of Bengal. Nicholas grew up in Bray, Berkshire.
He went to Christ Church, Oxford University. He finished his degree in 1787. After university, he became a lawyer, joining Lincoln's Inn. From the early 1770s, he lived with his mother in Greenwich.
Starting His Political Journey
Vansittart began his public career by writing pamphlets. These writings supported the government of William Pitt the Younger, especially how it handled money. In May 1796, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hastings. He held this seat until 1802.
Later, he represented other areas like Old Sarum and Helston. In 1801, he went on a special trip to Copenhagen for diplomatic reasons. After returning, he became a joint Secretary to the Treasury. This role involved helping manage the country's finances.
In 1805, he became the Chief Secretary for Ireland. This was a very important job in the Irish government. He later rejoined the government as Secretary to the Treasury in 1806.
Becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer
Nicholas Vansittart's skill with money matters grew over the years. In 1809, he suggested 38 ideas about financial questions in the British House of Commons. These ideas were accepted without any arguments.
He became the Chancellor of the Exchequer in May 1812. This happened when the Earl of Liverpool became Prime Minister. At this time, Britain was fighting the Napoleonic Wars. The country had huge taxes and a massive debt.
As Chancellor, he had to increase taxes. He raised customs duties and other taxes to pay for the war. In 1813, he introduced a complex plan to manage the country's debt.
Challenges as Chancellor
After the wars ended in 1816, people wanted lower taxes. Vansittart suggested only reducing the property or income tax, not getting rid of it completely. However, Parliament voted to abolish this tax. He also had to remove an extra tax on malt.
To cover the money shortage, he mainly had to borrow more. He tried to save money by changing how naval and military pensions were paid. This plan was complicated and didn't fully work out.
Vansittart became quite unpopular because of these financial decisions. He resigned from his position in December 1822. Many important politicians criticized his financial plans.
Later Life and Legacy
After resigning, Vansittart was offered a new role. He became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in February 1823. He was also given the title Baron Bexley, which meant he became a peer. This allowed him to sit in the House of Lords. He also received a pension of £3000 a year. He resigned from this role in January 1828.
In the House of Lords, Lord Bexley did not take a very active part in daily politics. However, he did support some important causes. He was interested in the British and Foreign Bible Mission and the Church Missionary Society. He also helped fund Kenyon College in the United States and helped start King's College London.
He was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1822. He also supported the American Colonization Society. This group aimed to help freed African people in the United States move back to the African continent.
Lord Bexley married Catherine Isabella Eden in 1806. They did not have any children. He passed away at Foots Cray, Kent, on February 8, 1851. Since he had no children, his title ended when he died.
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Remembered in Australia
The Australian explorer Phillip Parker King named a bay in Western Australia after Lord Bexley. This bay is called "Vansittart Bay" and is located on the coast of Kimberley.
Archives
You can find nine volumes of Nicholas Vansittart's personal papers in the British Library. These papers contain many details about his life and work.
