Spencer Horatio Walpole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spencer Horatio Walpole
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| Home Secretary | |
| In office 6 July 1866 – 17 May 1867 |
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| Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby |
| Preceded by | Sir George Grey |
| Succeeded by | Gathorne Hardy |
| In office 26 February 1858 – 3 March 1859 |
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| Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby |
| Preceded by | Sir George Grey |
| Succeeded by | T. H. S. Sotheron-Estcourt |
| In office 27 February 1852 – 19 December 1852 |
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| Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby |
| Preceded by | Sir George Grey |
| Succeeded by | The Viscount Palmerston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 September 1806 |
| Died | 22 May 1898 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Whig Conservative |
| Spouse |
Isabella Perceval
(m. 1835; died 1886) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Spencer Horatio Walpole (born September 11, 1806 – died May 22, 1898) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He worked as the Home Secretary three times. This job is like being in charge of law and order for the country. He served under a leader named Lord Derby.
Early Life and Schooling
Spencer Horatio Walpole was born in 1806. His father was Thomas Walpole. His mother was Lady Margaret Perceval. She was the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Egmont. She was also the sister of a former Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval.
Spencer Walpole went to Eton, a famous school. After that, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He decided to become a lawyer. In 1831, he became a lawyer at Lincoln's Inn. He was very good at his job. In 1846, he was made a Queen's Counsel. This means he was a very senior and respected lawyer.
Political Career Highlights
After his success as a lawyer, Walpole entered politics. In 1846, he was chosen to represent Midhurst in Parliament. He was a member of the Tory party, which later became the Conservative Party. He kept this seat until 1856.
Walpole quickly became well-known in the House of Commons. This is where elected politicians meet to make laws. In 1852, the Tories came into power. Their leader was Lord Derby. Walpole was given the important job of Home Secretary. He also joined the Privy Council. This is a group of advisors to the King or Queen. However, this government did not last long. It fell in December 1852.
In 1856, Walpole was elected to Parliament again. This time, he represented Cambridge University. Two years later, the Conservatives returned to power. Lord Derby was still their leader. Walpole was again made Home Secretary. But he resigned in January 1859. This was because he disagreed about new laws for elections. The government was dismissed later that year.
The Conservatives were out of power for seven years. But in 1866, they came back. Lord Derby made Walpole Home Secretary for the third time. However, Walpole faced criticism for how he handled protests about changing Parliament. He resigned from this role in May 1867. Even so, he stayed in the government. He was a Minister without Portfolio. This means he was a minister but without a specific department. He held this role until February 1868. At that time, Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister. Walpole never held a government job again. But he remained a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge University until 1882.
Family Life
In 1835, Spencer Walpole married his cousin, Isabella Perceval. They had four children together. They had two sons and two daughters. Their older son, Sir Spencer Walpole, became a famous historian. Spencer Horatio Walpole passed away in May 1898. He was 91 years old.
See also
- Baron Walpole and Walpole of Wolterton
