Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom
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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.
, MP, eldest son of Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale
. His mother was Jessy, daughter of Sir Richard Brooke, 6th Baronet. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
.
on his 21st birthday in 1858. He served under the Earl of Derby
and then Benjamin Disraeli as a Lord-in-Waiting
from 1866 to 1868. In 1870 he became Conservative Chief Whip
in the House of Lords. He once again held office under Disraeli as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
from 1874 to 1880 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1874. In 1880 he was created Earl of Lathom, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Lord Lathom later held office under Lord Salisbury
as Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 1885 to 1886, from 1886 to 1892 and from 1895 to 1898. In 1892 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
.
, on 16 August 1860. They had nine children:
The Countess of Lathom died in a carriage accident in November 1897, aged 56. 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.
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...
, PC (12 December 1837 – 19 November 1898), known as The Lord Skelmersdale between 1853 and 1880, was a British Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
. Having succeeded his grandfather as Baron Skelmersdale in 1853, he was created Earl of Lathom in 1880.
Background and education
Bootle-Wilbraham was the son of Hon. Richard Bootle-WilbrahamRichard Bootle-Wilbraham
Richard Bootle-Wilbraham was a British Conservative Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1835 1844....
, MP, eldest son of Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale
Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale
Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale , was a British politician.Bootle-Wilbraham was the son of Richard Bootle-Wilbraham and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert Bootle...
. His mother was Jessy, daughter of Sir Richard Brooke, 6th Baronet. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Political career
Bootle-Wilbraham succeeded his grandfather as second Baron Skelmersdale in 1853 and was entitled to take a seat in the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on his 21st birthday in 1858. He served under the Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
and then Benjamin Disraeli as a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
from 1866 to 1868. In 1870 he became Conservative Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
in the House of Lords. He once again held office under Disraeli as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
from 1874 to 1880 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1874. In 1880 he was created Earl of Lathom, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Lord Lathom later held office under Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
as Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 1885 to 1886, from 1886 to 1892 and from 1895 to 1898. In 1892 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
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...
.
Family
Lord Lathom married Lady Alice Villiers, daughter of George Villiers, 4th Earl of ClarendonGeorge Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon
George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon KG, GCB, PC , was an English diplomat and statesman.-Background and education:...
, on 16 August 1860. They had nine children:
- Edward George Bootle-Wilbraham, 2nd Earl of Lathom (1864-1910), married 1889 Lady Wilma Pleydell-Bouverie, daughter of William Pleydell-Bouverie, 5th Earl of Radnor.
- Hon. Villiers Richard Bootle-Wilbraham, born abt. 1867, married 1900 to Violet Inez de Romero
- Hon. Randle Arthur Bootle-Wilbraham, born abt. 1868
- Hon. Reginald Francis Bootle-Wilbraham, born abt. 1875, married 1903 to Lilian Mary Holt, daughter of Major William Lyster Holt
- Lady Alice Maud Bootle-Wilbraham, O.B.E.
- Lady Constance Adela Bootle-Wilbraham, married Onorato Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta
- Lady Bertha Mabel Bootle-Wilbraham, married 1903 to Maj. Arthur Frederick Dawkins, son of Clinton G. A. Dawkins, and has issue
- Lady Edith C. Bootle-Wilbraham.
- Lady Florence Mary Bootle-Wilbraham (d. 1944), married the Right Reverend Lord William Cecil, Bishop of ExeterBishop of ExeterThe Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
, son of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of SalisburyRobert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of SalisburyRobert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
and had issue.
The Countess of Lathom died in a carriage accident in November 1897, aged 56. 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.