Stephen Spring Rice (1856–1902) facts for kids

Stephen Edward Spring Rice (born March 28, 1856 – died September 6, 1902) was an important British civil servant and a smart academic. A civil servant is someone who works for the government to help run the country.

Who Was Stephen Spring Rice?

Stephen Spring Rice was born in London, England. His father, Charles William Thomas Spring Rice, also worked for the government in the Foreign Office. This office handles how Britain deals with other countries.

Stephen's grandfather was Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon, a well-known politician. His brother, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, became a diplomat, which means he represented Britain in other countries.

Stephen's Early Life and Education

Stephen grew up near a beautiful lake called Ullswater in England. He went to two very famous schools. First, he attended Eton College, a well-known boarding school.

After Eton, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, one of the oldest and most respected universities. He was so good at his studies that he became a "fellow" of the college in 1879. This means he was a senior member of the college, often involved in teaching and research.

Stephen's Important Career

Stephen Spring Rice started working for the British government in 1878. He joined the HM Treasury, which is the department in charge of the country's money and economy.

Working in the Treasury

From 1881 to 1888, Stephen was a Private Secretary. He worked for the Financial Secretaries to the Treasury. These officials help manage the government's money.

He also became the Private Secretary to Sir William Harcourt in 1886. Sir William Harcourt was the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time. This is a very important job, like being the chief financial minister for the country.

In 1894, Stephen was promoted to Principal Clerk in the Treasury. This was a senior role. A few years later, in 1899, he also became the Auditor of the Civil List. This meant he helped check the money used for the Royal Family and other official expenses.

Stephen was recognized for his hard work and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). This is an honor given for excellent service to the country. He also wrote articles for the Encyclopædia Britannica, a famous encyclopedia.

Stephen's Family Life

On January 12, 1888, Stephen Spring Rice married Julia FitzGerald. She was the daughter of Sir Peter FitzGerald, 19th Knight of Kerry.

Stephen and Julia had two children: a son named Edward Dominck Spring Rice and a daughter named Mary Honora Spring Rice.

His Final Years

Stephen Spring Rice passed away from an illness on September 6, 1902, when he was 46 years old. He was buried at All Saints Church, Watermillock, near where he grew up.

There is also a special memorial bridge at Aira Force that remembers Stephen and his brothers, Gerald and Cecil.