William Monsell, 1st Baron Emly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Emly
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| President of the Board of Health | |
| In office 9 February 1857 – 24 September 1857 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Palmerston |
| Preceded by | Hon. William Cowper |
| Succeeded by | Hon. William Cowper |
| Paymaster General and Vice-President of the Board of Trade |
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| In office 12 March 1866 – 26 June 1866 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl Russell |
| Preceded by | George Goschen |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Cave |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 10 December 1868 – 14 January 1871 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | Charles Adderley |
| Succeeded by | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen |
| Postmaster General | |
| In office 14 January 1871 – 18 November 1873 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | Marquess of Hartington |
| Succeeded by | Lyon Playfair |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 September 1812 |
| Died | 20 April 1894 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouses |
Lady Anna Wyndham-Quin
(m. 1836; died 1855)Bertha de Montigny Boulainvilliers
(m. 1857; died 1890) |
| Alma mater | Oriel College, Oxford |
William Monsell, 1st Baron Emly (born September 21, 1812 – died April 20, 1894) was an important Irish politician and landowner. He was a member of the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom. He held several important jobs in the government between 1852 and 1873. Some of his most notable roles included being the President of the Board of Health in 1857 and the Postmaster General from 1871 to 1873. He was also a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the British monarch.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Monsell was born in 1812. His father, also named William Monsell, owned land in Clarina, County Limerick, Ireland. William went to school at Winchester College and then studied at Oriel College, Oxford, a famous university. He left the university in 1831 without finishing his degree.
When he became an adult, he took over his family's estates. He was known as a good landlord because he lived on his land and cared for the people who worked for him. In 1843, he helped start St Columba's College, Dublin, a school in Ireland.
Political Journey
William Monsell began his political career as the Sheriff of County Limerick in 1835. This was an important local role. In 1847, he was elected to the British Parliament as a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Limerick. He served as an MP until 1874.
In 1850, Monsell became a Roman Catholic. After this, he became a strong voice for Catholic issues, especially in Parliament. He was friends with many important Catholic leaders, which helped him support the Church's interests in his political work.
Government Roles
Monsell held several important positions in the British government:
- In 1852, he became the Clerk of the Ordnance, a role dealing with military supplies.
- In 1855, he joined the Privy Council, becoming a formal advisor to the Queen.
- In 1857, he was briefly the President of the Board of Health, focusing on public health matters.
- In 1866, he served as Paymaster General and Vice-President of the Board of Trade, dealing with government payments and business.
- From 1868 to 1871, he was the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, helping manage Britain's colonies around the world.
- From 1871 to 1873, he was the Postmaster General, in charge of the postal service.
He was also the Lord Lieutenant of County Limerick from 1871 to 1894. This was a representative role for the monarch in the county.
Becoming a Baron
On January 12, 1874, William Monsell was given a special title and became Baron Emly. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament.
Later in his life, he became less popular in Ireland. This was because he did not support the Irish National Land League, which helped farmers, or the home rule movement, which wanted more self-governance for Ireland.
Family Life
Lord Emly was married twice. His first wife was Lady Anna Maria Charlotte Wyndham-Quin. They married in 1836 and had two sons, but sadly, both died when they were very young. Lady Anna passed away in 1855.
In 1857, he married his second wife, Bertha, who was the youngest daughter of the Comte de Montigny. With Bertha, he had one son, Gaston (who later became the second Lord Emly), and one daughter, Mary Olivia. Lord Emly passed away in April 1894, at the age of 81.
Arms
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