Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom

Summary

Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom GCB PC (12 December 1837 – 19 November 1898), known as The Lord Skelmersdale between 1853 and 1880, was a British Conservative politician. He was a member of every Conservative administration between 1866 and 1898, and notably served three times as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under Lord Salisbury. Having succeeded his grandfather as Baron Skelmersdale in 1853, he was created Earl of Lathom in 1880.

The Earl of Lathom
Photograph of Lord Lathom, 1890
Lord Chamberlain of the Household
In office
27 June 1885 – 28 January 1886
MonarchQueen Victoria
Prime MinisterThe Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded byThe Earl of Kenmare
Succeeded byThe Earl of Kenmare
In office
5 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
MonarchQueen Victoria
Prime MinisterThe Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded byThe Earl of Kenmare
Succeeded byThe Lord Carrington
In office
16 July 1895 – 19 November 1898
MonarchQueen Victoria
Prime MinisterThe Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded byThe Lord Carrington
Succeeded byThe Earl of Hopetoun
Personal details
Born12 December 1837 (1837-12-12)
Died19 November 1898 (1898-11-20) (aged 60)
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Lady Alice Villiers
(1841–1897)
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford

Early life edit

 
Portrait of Lord Lathom wearing Masonic regalia, by Jean Marius Rogier.
 
Lord Skelmersdale caricatured in Vanity Fair magazine, 1871.

Bootle-Wilbraham was born at Blythe Hall, Lathom, Lancashire, the son of Hon. Richard Bootle-Wilbraham, MP, eldest son of Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale. His mother was Jessy, daughter of Sir Richard Brooke, 6th Baronet of Norton. His father died when Edward was only 7 years old and he was brought up by his grandparents at nearby Lathom House.

He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.[1] Whilst a student at Oxford he was initiated into the Apollo University Lodge No 357, and became an active Freemason.[2] He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 11th (1st Preston) Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps on 9 November 1872.[3]

Career edit

Bootle-Wilbraham succeeded his grandfather as second Baron Skelmersdale in 1853 and was entitled to take a seat in the House of Lords on his 21st birthday in 1858. He served under the Earl of Derby and then Benjamin Disraeli as a Lord-in-waiting from 1866[4] to 1868.[5] In 1870 he became Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords.[citation needed] He once again held office under Disraeli as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1874[6] to 1880,[7] and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1874.[8]

In 1880 he was created Earl of Lathom, in the County Palatine of Lancaster.[9] Lord Lathom later held office under Lord Salisbury as Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 1885[10] to 1886,[11] from 1886[12] to 1892,[13] and from 1895[14] to 1898.[15] In 1892 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.[16]

Personal life edit

On 16 August 1860, Lord Lathom married Lady Alice Villiers, daughter of George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon and the former Lady Katharine Barham (widow of John Joseph Barham, and eldest daughter of James Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam).[1] Together, they were the parents of:

The Countess of Lathom died in a carriage accident in November 1897, aged 56. Lady Alice's Drive, opposite Blythe Hall, is named after her. Lord Lathom survived her by a year and died in November 1898, aged 60. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Edward, Lord Skelmersdale.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d thepeerage.com Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom
  2. ^ "1870 - 1914 - Apollo University Lodge". Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  3. ^ Army List.
  4. ^ "No. 23139". The London Gazette. 17 July 1866. p. 4035.
  5. ^ "No. 23452". The London Gazette. 22 December 1868. p. 6775.
  6. ^ "No. 24071". The London Gazette. 3 March 1874. p. 1452.
  7. ^ "No. 24842". The London Gazette. 7 May 1880. p. 2915.
  8. ^ "No. 24071". The London Gazette. 3 March 1874. p. 1449.
  9. ^ "No. 24840". The London Gazette. 30 April 1880. pp. 2785–2786.
  10. ^ "No. 25485". The London Gazette. 30 June 1885. p. 3000.
  11. ^ "No. 25558". The London Gazette. 12 February 1886. p. 683.
  12. ^ "No. 25615". The London Gazette. 10 August 1886. p. 3853.
  13. ^ "No. 26321". The London Gazette. 30 August 1892. p. 4958.
  14. ^ "No. 26644". The London Gazette. 16 July 1895. p. 4022.
  15. ^ "No. 27031". The London Gazette. 9 December 1898. p. 7970.
  16. ^ "No. 26312". The London Gazette. 2 August 1892. p. 4375.
Party political offices
Preceded by Conservative Chief Whip
in the House of Lords

c. 1870 – 1885
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
1874–1880
Succeeded by
Preceded by Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
1874–1880
Preceded by Lord Chamberlain of the Household
1885–1886
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Chamberlain of the Household
1886–1892
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Chamberlain of the Household
1895–1898
Succeeded by
Masonic offices
Preceded by Pro Grand Master of the
United Grand Lodge of England

1890–1898
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Earl of Lathom
1880–1898
Succeeded by
Preceded by Baron Skelmersdale
1853–1898