Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook
Encyclopedia
Francis Thornhill Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook PC (20 April 1796 – 6 September 1866), known as Sir Francis Baring, Bt, from 1848 to 1866, was a British Whig
politician who served in the governments of Lord Melbourne
and Lord John Russell
.
banking family, he was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Baronet
, and his wife Mary Ursula, eldest daughter of Charles Sealy. Baring was educated at Winchester College
and then Eton College
. He obtained a double first class from Christ Church College, Oxford in 1817 and graduated with a Master of Arts four years later. In 1823, he was called to the Bar
at Lincoln's Inn
and in 1848, he succeeded his father as baronet.
in 1826, sitting as a Member of Parliament
for Portsmouth
until his retirement in 1865. A year later, he was raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom
as Baron Northbrook. Baring was appointed a Lord of the Treasury
in 1830, a post he held for the next four years until June 1834. He was then a Secretary to the Treasury
until November of the same year, executing this office again between 1835 and 1839. Subsequently Baring was sworn of the Privy Council
and joined the cabinet as Chancellor of the Exchequer
, serving until the fall of the Melbourne government in August 1841. He returned to the cabinet in January 1849, replacing Lord Auckland
as First Lord of the Admiralty in Russell's cabinet, until its fall in 1852.
, and niece of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
, in 1825. After her death in 1838 he married secondly Lady Arabella Georgina Howard, second daughter of Kenneth Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham
. There were children from both marriages. Lord Northbrook died in September 1866, aged 70, and was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Thomas
, who later was created Earl of Northbrook in 1876. Lady Northbrook died in December 1884, aged 75.
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
politician who served in the governments of Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
and Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
.
Background
A member of the famous BaringBarings Bank
Barings Bank was the oldest merchant bank in London until its collapse in 1995 after one of the bank's employees, Nick Leeson, lost £827 million due to speculative investing, primarily in futures contracts, at the bank's Singapore office.-History:-1762–1890:Barings Bank was founded in 1762 as the...
banking family, he was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Baronet
Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Baronet
Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Baronet , was a British banker and MP.He was the eldest son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, founder of Barings Bank. His grandfather John Baring had emigrated from Germany and established the family in England. Thomas became a partner in Baring Brothers & Co. in 1804,...
, and his wife Mary Ursula, eldest daughter of Charles Sealy. Baring was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and then Eton College
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"....
. He obtained a double first class from Christ Church College, Oxford in 1817 and graduated with a Master of Arts four years later. In 1823, he was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and in 1848, he succeeded his father as baronet.
Political career
Baring entered the British House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1826, sitting as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Portsmouth
Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Portsmouth was a borough constituency based upon the borough of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.- History :...
until his retirement in 1865. A year later, he was raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
as Baron Northbrook. Baring was appointed a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
in 1830, a post he held for the next four years until June 1834. He was then a Secretary to the Treasury
Secretary to the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are several Secretaries to the Treasury, who are junior Treasury ministers nominally acting as secretaries to HM Treasury. The origins of the office are unclear, although it probably originated during Lord Burghley's tenure as Lord Treasurer in the 16th century. The...
until November of the same year, executing this office again between 1835 and 1839. Subsequently Baring was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
and joined the cabinet as Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, serving until the fall of the Melbourne government in August 1841. He returned to the cabinet in January 1849, replacing Lord Auckland
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, GCB, PC was a British Whig politician and colonial administrator. He was thrice First Lord of the Admiralty and also served as Governor-General of India between 1836 and 1842....
as First Lord of the Admiralty in Russell's cabinet, until its fall in 1852.
Family
Lord Northbrook married firstly Jane Grey, daughter of the Hon. Sir George Grey, 1st BaronetSir George Grey, 1st Baronet
Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet, KCB was a British Royal Navy officer. He was born at the family home of Fallodon, Northumberland on 10 October 1767, the third son of Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey and Elizabeth Grey , and younger brother of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey and General Sir Henry George Grey...
, and niece of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
, in 1825. After her death in 1838 he married secondly Lady Arabella Georgina Howard, second daughter of Kenneth Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham
Kenneth Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham
Kenneth Alexander Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham was a British peer.His father, Henry Howard , was a male-line descendant of William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham. His mother, Maria Mackenzie Kenneth Alexander Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham (29 November 1767 – 13 February 1845) was a...
. There were children from both marriages. Lord Northbrook died in September 1866, aged 70, and was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Thomas
Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook
Thomas George Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook PC, GCSI, FRS , was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, who later was created Earl of Northbrook in 1876. Lady Northbrook died in December 1884, aged 75.
Honors
- Baring BayBaring BayBaring Bay is an Arctic waterway in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It lies off the southwestern coast of Devon Island in the eastern high Arctic. Like Macormick Bay to the south, it is an arm of Wellington Channel....
on western Devon IslandDevon IslandDevon Island , claimed to be the largest uninhabited island on Earth, is located in Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is one of the larger members of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the second-largest of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Canada's sixth largest island, and the 27th...
in the Canadian Arctic is named in his honor.