Robert Henley, 2nd Earl of Northington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Northington
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | |
| In office 3 May 1783 – 12 February 1784 |
|
| Preceded by | The Earl Temple |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Rutland |
Robert Henley, 2nd Earl of Northington, was an important British politician who lived in the 1700s. He was born on January 3, 1747, and passed away on July 5, 1786. He held several significant roles in the government, including serving as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Henley was the oldest son of Robert Henley, who was the 1st Earl of Northington. He went to Westminster School, a famous school in London. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a college at the University of Oxford.
In 1772, when his father passed away, Robert became the 2nd Earl of Northington. This meant he inherited his father's title and also a large estate called The Grange in Northington.
Government Roles
Robert Henley started working in government early in his life. In 1763, he was given a job called a Teller of the Exchequer. This was a position where he helped manage the government's money. He kept this job for the rest of his life.
He also became the Clerk of the hanaper in 1771. This was another important role in the government's legal system, and he held it for life.
Political Career
On March 30, 1768, Robert Henley was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hampshire. An MP is someone elected to represent a certain area in the British Parliament. He served in the House of Commons until 1772.
When he became the Earl of Northington in 1772, he moved to the House of Lords. This is the upper house of the British Parliament, where people with noble titles often sit.
In 1773, he was made a Knight of the Thistle. This is a special honor given by the King or Queen of Scotland.
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
In 1783, Robert Henley took on a very important role: Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. This person was the King's main representative in Ireland at the time. He served during a period when two political groups, the Whigs and the Tories, worked together in a group called the Fox-North Coalition.
While serving as Lord Lieutenant, he also became a member of the Privy Council on April 30, 1783. The Privy Council is a group of important advisors to the King.
A famous painter named Joshua Reynolds painted a portrait of Robert Henley in 1787. This painting can now be seen in the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Later Life and Legacy
Robert Henley passed away on July 5, 1786, when he was 39 years old. He never married and did not have any sons. Because of this, his titles, including Earl of Northington, ended when he died.
His sisters – Lady Bridget Tollemache, Lady Jane Aston, Mary Dowager Countess Ligonier, and Lady Elizabeth Eden – inherited his family's estates. They later sold The Grange, the family home, to the Drummond banking family.
