Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Buckingham
and Chandos |
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The 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, c. 1867
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| Governor of Madras Presidency | |
| In office 23 November 1875 – 20 December 1880 |
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| Governor-General | Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook, Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton, George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon |
| Preceded by | William Rose Robinson (acting) |
| Succeeded by | William Patrick Adam |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 8 March 1867 – 1 December 1868 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby Benjamin Disraeli |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Carnarvon |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Granville |
| Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 6 July 1866 – 8 March 1867 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby |
| Preceded by | The Earl Granville |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Marlborough |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 September 1823 Westminster St James, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 26 March 1889 (aged 65) Chandos House, Marylebone, London |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses | (1) Caroline Harvey (d. 1874) (2) Alice Graham-Montgomery (1847–1931) |
| Children | 3, including Mary Morgan-Grenville, 11th Lady Kinloss |
| Parents | Richard Temple-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos Lady Mary Campbell |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Richard Plantagenet Campbell Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (born September 10, 1823 – died March 26, 1889) was an important British leader in the 1800s. He was a soldier, a politician, and a government official.
He was known by different names during his life. First, he was called Earl Temple, then Marquess of Chandos. Later, he became the 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. He was a close friend of Benjamin Disraeli, who was a Prime Minister. The Duke served as the Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1867 to 1868. He also worked as the Governor of Madras in India from 1875 to 1880.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Richard was the only son of Richard Temple-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. His mother was Lady Mary Campbell. He had a sister named Lady Anna Eliza Mary Gore-Langton, who worked for women's rights.
He went to Eton College, a famous school, and then studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. After college, he joined the British Army and became a colonel.
Starting a Political Career
In 1846, Richard, then known as the Marquess of Chandos, started his political journey. He was elected to Parliament for Buckinghamshire. He was part of the Conservative Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) until 1857.
During this time, he held several important jobs. He was a Lord of the Treasury in 1852, helping manage government money. He also became chairman of the London and North-Western Railway, a big train company. In 1861, when his father passed away, he became the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. This meant he took his seat in the House of Lords.
In 1866, he joined the Privy Council. This group advises the King or Queen. He then became Lord President of the Council, a very senior government role.
Leading the Colonies
In March 1867, the Duke of Buckingham was chosen to be the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This job meant he was in charge of all the British colonies around the world. He held this position until December 1868.
One big task he handled was the British North America Act. This law helped create Canada as a country. His time as Colonial Secretary ended when the Conservative Party government resigned.
Governor of Madras
In 1875, the Duke was appointed Governor of Madras. Madras was a large area in British India. He started his new role on November 23, 1875.
His time as Governor was very challenging. A terrible event called the Great Famine of 1876–78 hit Madras. Millions of people were affected by hunger. The Duke worked hard to help. He asked for help from cities in England, Scotland, Ireland, and India.
He made sure food was sent to Madras. He also started projects to give people work and help them survive. One major project was building a canal.
The Buckingham Canal
To help with famine relief, the Duke started building a long canal. This canal would connect Madras city with areas to the north. It made it easier to transport food and supplies during emergencies.
This important canal was finished in 1878 and was named the Buckingham Canal in his honor. A street in Penang, Malaysia, was also named Buckingham Street by Tamil workers who moved there.
Dealing with Rebellions
During his time in Madras, some local tribes were unhappy with British taxes. This led to a rebellion in 1879, known as the Rampa Rebellion of 1879. The Duke's government worked with the army to stop the rebellion. After this, some of the strict tax laws were changed.
The Duke's term as Governor ended in December 1880.
Later Years and Passing
After returning to Britain, the Duke continued his work in the House of Lords. In 1886, he became Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords. He worked to pay off debts left by his father. His financial situation improved over time.
The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos passed away on March 26, 1889, at the age of 65. He died from diabetes at his home in London. He was buried in the family vault at Wotton House, Buckinghamshire.
Since he had no sons, some of his titles ended with him. However, his eldest daughter, Lady Mary, inherited his Scottish title, the lordship of Kinloss.
Family Life
The Duke married twice. His first wife was Caroline Harvey. They had three daughters:
- Mary Morgan-Grenville, 11th Lady Kinloss (1852–1944)
- Lady Anne (1853–1890)
- Lady Caroline Jemima Elizabeth (1858–1946)
Caroline passed away in 1874. Later, in 1885, the Duke married Alice Graham-Montgomery. She was 25 years younger than him. They did not have any children together. After the Duke died, Alice remarried.
Images for kids
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Painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicting Buckingham being greeted by Visakham Thirunal, with Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore looking on, during Buckingham's visit to Trivandrum, Travancore in early 1880.
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Detail from the painting of the Maharaja of Travancore and his brother welcoming Buckingham and Chandos to Trivandrum in 1880, painted by Raja Ravi Varma, 1881.
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