Ralph Payne, 1st Baron Lavington facts for kids

Ralph Payne, 1st Baron Lavington (born March 19, 1739 – died August 3, 1807) was an important British politician. He also served as the Governor of the Leeward Islands, a group of islands in the Caribbean. He was given special honors like being a Knight of the Bath (KB) and a member of the Privy Council (PC).

Early Life and Education

Ralph Payne was born in 1739 on the island of St Kitts, in a town called St George, Basseterre. His father, also named Ralph Payne, was the Chief Justice of St Kitts. His family was quite wealthy and came from a place called Lavington in England. This is why he later became known as Baron Lavington.

He went to school in England at Christ's Hospital in West Sussex. After finishing school, he returned to St Kitts. There, he was chosen to be a member of the local assembly and was even voted as its speaker.

First Time as Governor of the Leeward Islands

After he got married, Ralph Payne started his political career in England. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Shaftesbury. He held this position from 1768 to 1771.

In 1771, he was made a Knight of the Bath, which is a special honor. Later that same year, he was appointed as the Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands. He had inherited a lot of land and wealth on these islands from his parents.

In 1772, a big hurricane hit the islands. Governor Payne was the first governor to travel around the islands to see the damage and figure out how to help. During his time as governor, he supported an artist named Thomas Hearne. Hearne painted many pictures of the Leeward Islands. One painting, which shows Payne himself, is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Sir Ralph finished his first term as governor in 1775.

Returning to England and Political Career

Sir Ralph came back to England by 1762. He continued his political work.

• He became an MP for Camelford in Cornwall from 1776 to 1780.
• Then, he was an MP for Plympton Erle in Devon until 1784.
• He also worked as the Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth from 1777 to 1782.

After the war in America ended, he supported a politician named Fox. However, his political career became harder for a while because William Pitt the Younger became prime minister in 1783 and gained a lot of power.

In 1788, he traveled around Europe. He returned to England in 1790 and tried to become an MP for Fowey in Cornwall, but he did not win.

He found it hard to get back into British politics. His income from his large estates in the Leeward Islands had greatly decreased. He owned a large estate called Carlisle's in St George, Antigua, where many people worked. Despite his past wealth, he faced financial difficulties later in life. This estate was eventually sold to Reid and Dixon.

He later changed his support to Prime Minister Pitt. He even hosted a party at his house in 1793 where Pitt was present.

In 1795, he was given the title Baron Lavington in the peerage of Ireland. This meant he became a Lord. He was also elected as an MP for Woodstock in October 1795, and he kept this seat until 1799. During this time, he did not vote on the issue of ending the slave trade.

Second Time as Governor of the Leeward Islands

Lord Lavington was chosen again to be the Governor of the Leeward Islands in February 1799. He arrived in Antigua on August 12, 1801. He also became a member of the Privy Council in 1799. Payne remained governor until he passed away in 1807.

He continued to face financial struggles, and his Carlisle's Estate in Antigua, where many people worked, was sold after his death.

Family Life

On September 1, 1767, in London, Ralph Payne married Frances Lambertine Christiana Charlotte Harriet Theresa de Kolbel. She was the daughter of a German nobleman. They did not have any children.

His wife was well-connected and knew many important people, including Queen Charlotte. This helped Payne make useful contacts for his political career. However, their marriage was not always happy.

Ralph Payne died at Government House in the Leeward Islands on August 3, 1807. He was buried the next day at his plantation, Carlisles. A special marble monument was put up for him in the parish church of St John's in Antigua.

He died without children and in a difficult financial situation. His wife, Lady Lavington, was left with a small annual income. She passed away at Hampton Court Palace in London on May 2, 1830.

Historians say that Lord Lavington's life showed how some wealthy plantation owners in Britain could rise quickly but also face financial downfall.