Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Selborne
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| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | |
| In office 28 April 1880 – 9 June 1885 |
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| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | The Lord Cairns |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Halsbury |
| In office 15 October 1872 – 17 February 1874 |
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| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | The Lord Hatherley |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Cairns |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 November 1812 Mixbury, Oxfordshire |
| Died | 4 May 1895 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | Lady Laura Waldegrave |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford Trinity College, Oxford |
Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne (born November 27, 1812 – died May 4, 1895) was an important English lawyer and politician. He held the high position of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain twice. This role is like being the head judge and a senior government minister.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Roundell Palmer was born in a village called Mixbury in Oxfordshire. His father, William Jocelyn Palmer, was a local church leader known as a rector. Roundell had two brothers, William and Edwin.
He went to two well-known schools, Rugby School and Winchester College. After that, he studied at the University of Oxford. He first attended Christ Church, Oxford, then won a scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford, and later became a fellow (a senior member) at Magdalen College, Oxford in 1834.
While at Oxford, he was very successful. He won several awards for his writing and studies in Latin and Greek. He also became good friends with Frederick William Faber, who wrote hymns (religious songs). In 1832, he was the President of the Oxford Union, which is a famous debating society.
Political Career and Achievements
Roundell Palmer became a lawyer in 1837. He chose to work in a specific area of law called "equity bar," which deals with fairness and justice rather than cases decided by juries. From 1840 to 1843, he wrote articles for The Times newspaper.
In 1847, he was elected to the House of Commons for Plymouth. This is where laws are made in the UK. He was part of a political group called the Peelites. He lost his seat a couple of times but was re-elected later.
In 1861, Palmer was given an important job as Solicitor General under Prime Minister Lord Palmerston. This role means he was a senior legal advisor to the government. He was also made a knight, so he became "Sir Roundell Palmer." In 1863, he was promoted to Attorney General, an even higher legal position.
As a government lawyer, he had to deal with many international legal issues, especially those related to the American Civil War. One famous case was the Alabama Claims, which involved a ship built in Britain for the Confederate States.
Palmer was a supporter of William Ewart Gladstone, who later became Prime Minister. However, they disagreed on one major issue: whether the Church of Ireland should be separated from the state. Because of this, Palmer refused Gladstone's offer to become Lord Chancellor in 1868. He preferred to speak out against the separation of the church. He also represented Britain in the Alabama Claims case in Geneva.
Despite their disagreements, Palmer was appointed Lord Chancellor on October 15, 1872, by Gladstone. He was given the title Baron Selborne. As Lord Chancellor, he helped pass the Judicature Act 1873, which changed how the English court system worked.
He served as Lord Chancellor again from 1880 to 1885. During this time, he created the Lord Chancellor's Department. In 1882, he received even higher titles: Viscount Wolmer and the Earl of Selborne.
After Gladstone's government fell in 1885, Palmer became worried about some of the Liberal Party's new ideas. He completely broke with Gladstone over the issue of Irish Home Rule, which was about giving Ireland more control over its own affairs. He refused to be Lord Chancellor again in 1886 and joined a new group called the Liberal Unionist Party.
Honours and Recognition
Roundell Palmer received many honours throughout his life. In 1860, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a group of leading scientists. He was also an honorary member of his old colleges at Oxford and held important positions at the University of Oxford and the University of St Andrews.
Family Life
Roundell Palmer married Lady Laura Waldegrave in 1848. They had five children: four daughters and one son. Their eldest daughter, Laura Elizabeth, became an author and social reformer. Their son, William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne, also became a well-known politician.
Lady Selborne passed away in April 1885. Lord Selborne lived for another ten years, dying in May 1895 at the age of 82.
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Lord Selborne, 1st Earl of Selborne
