Charlotte Campbell-Bannerman
Encyclopedia
Charlotte, Lady Campbell-Bannerman (1836 — 30 August 1906) was the wife of British prime minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman
.
Sarah Charlotte Bruce was the daughter of Major-General Sir Charles Bruce, KCB
, sometime Governor of Portsmouth
, and his wife Charlotte, daughter of James Forbes, of Hutton Hall, Essex
, and Kingairloch
, Argyll
. She married the future Prime Minister on 13 September 1860, at All Souls' Church, Langham Place, London
.
In her early married life she was able to entertain. Her parties in Grosvernor Square were regarded as events of importance, and during the winter at Belmont Castle, Meigle
, Perthshire
she and her husband received their friends and neighbours for many years. She guided and influenced her husband throughout their marriage to a considerable degree. Intelligent and cultured, she speedily mastered many subjects and was an instinctively shrewd judge of character. Sir Henry discussed with her all the crises which arose in his political life, and she became closely associated with all her husband's plans, jealously guarding his interests and resenting the least supposed slight to his reputation. Her aspirations for his success compensated for his lack of ambition. Years later he told John Morley
that Charlotte's contentment was more important to him than his life. However, she was content to remain comparatively unknown, appearing on few public platforms and taking no open part in her husband's electioneering campaigns.
In 1884, Sir Henry accepted the Chief Secretaryship for Ireland
only at her urging, despite Rosebery
writing to tell him it was "the most disagreeable post in the public service".
Lady Campbell-Bannerman, described as a rather plain, stout woman, was well-versed in art, and the couple frequently spent their holidays in visiting their old châteaux of France
. Belmont, their much-loved Scottish home, was full of ancient French furniture and curios obtained during their frequent visits to the Continent. She spoke French
fluently and, like her husband, was well-versed in French literature
. She was very fond of Belmont, and in her later years was wheeled about the beautiful grounds in her bath chair. Fruit, flowers, and vegetables were regularly sent south during her residence in London
, and a choice bloom of her favourite flower, a white gardenia
, was posted to her daily. At Belmont, she and the prime minister walked together in the grounds when state duties permitted him some breathing space, and the evenings were spent quietly in her boudoir.
Campbell-Bannerman, who had no children, was racked by illness in the last several years of her life. She had to curtail her social duties and her role as adviser to her husband. She was too ill to take her place by his side when he attained the prime ministership, although she was able to join him when he retired to Belmont after his 1906 election victory
, taking part in the welcome which had been organized by his aides and constituents. He thought of taking time out of his political activity in order to be with her, but she dissuaded him from this, and early in 1906 they left their Belgrave Square
town house to move into 10 Downing Street
. As her illness grew increasingly painful and debilitating, her husband nursed her with tender care and anxious devotion through every crisis. He readily acknowledged to the King's Private Secretary, Sir Francis Knollys
, that the time and energy he constantly gave to his wife meant that he neglected his prime-ministerial duties. He knew this was not right, but he could do no other.
She hardly ever left 10 Downing Street, except for a visit to Dover
in May, which left her with an attack of influenza. On August 8, shortly after the House of Commons adjourned for the summer recess, the couple left for Marienbad
, where Lady Campbell-Bannerman died in her sleep at 5 pm on 30 August 1906, her husband by her side; the immediate cause of death was exhaustion, as she had taken no food for three days. Two days later, a funeral was held for her, attended by King Edward VII
, and she was buried in Meigle churchyard on 5 September. As a sign of his devotion, the prime minister had inscribed on his wife's memorial tablet in Meigle church the following words of Tasso
's: "their hearts were as one".
The death of his beloved wife was a severe blow to the Prime Minister, from which he never fully recovered, emotionally or physically. Shortly after Charlotte's death, he suffered the first of a series of progressively more serious and damaging heart attacks
. Each time he appeared to have made a rapid and full recovery, but a particularly sharp and debilitating one came in November 1907. He resigned the following April and died later that month, less than two years after his wife.
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
.
Sarah Charlotte Bruce was the daughter of Major-General Sir Charles Bruce, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, sometime Governor of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, and his wife Charlotte, daughter of James Forbes, of Hutton Hall, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and Kingairloch
Glensanda
Glensanda was a Viking settlement at the mouth of Glen Sanda on the Morvern peninsula within south west Lochaber, overlooking the Isle of Lismore and Loch Linnhe in the western Highlands of Scotland....
, Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
. She married the future Prime Minister on 13 September 1860, at All Souls' Church, Langham Place, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In her early married life she was able to entertain. Her parties in Grosvernor Square were regarded as events of importance, and during the winter at Belmont Castle, Meigle
Meigle
Meigle is a village in Strathmore, Scotland. It lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross in the Coupar Angus and Meigle ward. The nearest town is Forfar in neighbouring Angus. Other smaller settlements nearby are Balkeerie, Kirkinch and Kinloch. Meigle is accessed from the north and south...
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
she and her husband received their friends and neighbours for many years. She guided and influenced her husband throughout their marriage to a considerable degree. Intelligent and cultured, she speedily mastered many subjects and was an instinctively shrewd judge of character. Sir Henry discussed with her all the crises which arose in his political life, and she became closely associated with all her husband's plans, jealously guarding his interests and resenting the least supposed slight to his reputation. Her aspirations for his success compensated for his lack of ambition. Years later he told John Morley
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn OM, PC was a British Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist, he was elected a Member of Parliament in 1883...
that Charlotte's contentment was more important to him than his life. However, she was content to remain comparatively unknown, appearing on few public platforms and taking no open part in her husband's electioneering campaigns.
In 1884, Sir Henry accepted the Chief Secretaryship for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
only at her urging, despite Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
writing to tell him it was "the most disagreeable post in the public service".
Lady Campbell-Bannerman, described as a rather plain, stout woman, was well-versed in art, and the couple frequently spent their holidays in visiting their old châteaux of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Belmont, their much-loved Scottish home, was full of ancient French furniture and curios obtained during their frequent visits to the Continent. She spoke French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
fluently and, like her husband, was well-versed in French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
. She was very fond of Belmont, and in her later years was wheeled about the beautiful grounds in her bath chair. Fruit, flowers, and vegetables were regularly sent south during her residence in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and a choice bloom of her favourite flower, a white gardenia
Gardenia
Gardenia is a genus of 142 species of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania....
, was posted to her daily. At Belmont, she and the prime minister walked together in the grounds when state duties permitted him some breathing space, and the evenings were spent quietly in her boudoir.
Campbell-Bannerman, who had no children, was racked by illness in the last several years of her life. She had to curtail her social duties and her role as adviser to her husband. She was too ill to take her place by his side when he attained the prime ministership, although she was able to join him when he retired to Belmont after his 1906 election victory
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, taking part in the welcome which had been organized by his aides and constituents. He thought of taking time out of his political activity in order to be with her, but she dissuaded him from this, and early in 1906 they left their Belgrave Square
Belgrave Square
Belgrave Square is one of the grandest and largest 19th century squares in London, England. It is the centrepiece of Belgravia, and was laid out by the property contractor Thomas Cubitt for the 2nd Earl Grosvenor, later the 1st Marquess of Westminster, in the 1820s. Most of the houses were occupied...
town house to move into 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
. As her illness grew increasingly painful and debilitating, her husband nursed her with tender care and anxious devotion through every crisis. He readily acknowledged to the King's Private Secretary, Sir Francis Knollys
Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys
Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys, GCB, GCVO, KCMG, PC, ISO , was Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1901–1913....
, that the time and energy he constantly gave to his wife meant that he neglected his prime-ministerial duties. He knew this was not right, but he could do no other.
She hardly ever left 10 Downing Street, except for a visit to Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
in May, which left her with an attack of influenza. On August 8, shortly after the House of Commons adjourned for the summer recess, the couple left for Marienbad
Mariánské Lázne
Mariánské Lázně is a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is a mosaic of parks and noble houses...
, where Lady Campbell-Bannerman died in her sleep at 5 pm on 30 August 1906, her husband by her side; the immediate cause of death was exhaustion, as she had taken no food for three days. Two days later, a funeral was held for her, attended by King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, and she was buried in Meigle churchyard on 5 September. As a sign of his devotion, the prime minister had inscribed on his wife's memorial tablet in Meigle church the following words of Tasso
Torquato Tasso
Torquato Tasso was an Italian poet of the 16th century, best known for his poem La Gerusalemme liberata , in which he depicts a highly imaginative version of the combats between Christians and Muslims at the end of the First Crusade, during the siege of Jerusalem...
's: "their hearts were as one".
The death of his beloved wife was a severe blow to the Prime Minister, from which he never fully recovered, emotionally or physically. Shortly after Charlotte's death, he suffered the first of a series of progressively more serious and damaging heart attacks
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. Each time he appeared to have made a rapid and full recovery, but a particularly sharp and debilitating one came in November 1907. He resigned the following April and died later that month, less than two years after his wife.