Henry Villiers-Stuart
Encyclopedia
Henry Windsor Villiers-Stuart (13 September 1827-12 October 1895), was a British soldier, politician, clergyman and author.
Villiers-Stuart was the son of Henry Villiers-Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Decies
, son of Lord Henry Stuart and his wife Lady Gertrude Amelia, daughter of George Mason-Villiers, 2nd Earl Grandison. His paternal great-grandfather was John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute
, son of Prime Minister John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
. His mother was Theresia Pauline, of Vienna
, Austria
. His parents had been married in a Roman Catholic service at St James's, Spanish Place, London, and also under Scottish law, but there was uncertainty over whether Theresia was free to marry. Villiers-Stuart was educated at University College
, Durham University
and served in the Austrian Army from 1844 to 1846 and in the British Army
from 1846 to 1847. He was later ordained and served as Vicar of Bulkington
, Warwickshire
, from 1852 to 1855 and of Napton from 1855 to 1871.
The latter year he resigned Holy Orders in order to pursue a political career and was successfully returned to Parliament for County Waterford in 1873. His father died the following year and he then resigned his seat so that he could pursue his claim to the barony of Stuart de Decies. However, Stuart-Villiers was unable to satisfactorily claim that his parents were legally married and was not allowed to assume the title. He was again elected to the House of Commons
for County Waterford in 1880, a seat he held until 1885. After the British intervention in Egypt
in 1882 he was sent by the British government to report on the conditions of the people in this county, and produced several books on the topic, including Egypt after the War. His work received the special recognition of Lord Dufferin, and his reports were published as a parliamentary blue-book.
He took a keen interest in Egyptian exploration, and was a member of the Society of Biblical Archæology. He was also a member of the committee of the Royal Literary Fund.
Stuart-Villiers married Mary Power in 1865. They had five sons and four daughters. He died in October 1895, aged 68, after falling from his boat on the River Blackwater. His wife survived him by twelve years and died in September 1907.
Villiers-Stuart was the son of Henry Villiers-Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Decies
Henry Villiers-Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Decies
Henry Villiers-Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Decies PC , was a British Tory politician.-Background and education:Born Henry Chrichton-Stuart, in London, he was the eldest son of Lord Henry Chrichton-Stuart, third son of John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute. His mother was Lady Gertrude Emilia, daughter...
, son of Lord Henry Stuart and his wife Lady Gertrude Amelia, daughter of George Mason-Villiers, 2nd Earl Grandison. His paternal great-grandfather was John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute
John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute
John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute, PC, FRS was a British nobleman.He was the son of the 3rd Earl of Bute and the former Mary Wortley Montagu, a granddaughter of the 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull and great-granddaughter of the 1st Earl of Sandwich...
, son of Prime Minister John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute KG, PC , styled Lord Mount Stuart before 1723, was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain under George III, and was arguably the last important favourite in British politics...
. His mother was Theresia Pauline, of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. His parents had been married in a Roman Catholic service at St James's, Spanish Place, London, and also under Scottish law, but there was uncertainty over whether Theresia was free to marry. Villiers-Stuart was educated at University College
University College, Durham
University College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
and served in the Austrian Army from 1844 to 1846 and in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
from 1846 to 1847. He was later ordained and served as Vicar of Bulkington
Bulkington
Bulkington is a large village and former parish in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, UK. In the 2001 census it had a population of 6,303. It is located around north-east of Coventry, just east of the towns of Nuneaton and Bedworth and south-west of Hinckley...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, from 1852 to 1855 and of Napton from 1855 to 1871.
The latter year he resigned Holy Orders in order to pursue a political career and was successfully returned to Parliament for County Waterford in 1873. His father died the following year and he then resigned his seat so that he could pursue his claim to the barony of Stuart de Decies. However, Stuart-Villiers was unable to satisfactorily claim that his parents were legally married and was not allowed to assume the title. He was again elected to the House of Commons
British 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...
for County Waterford in 1880, a seat he held until 1885. After the British intervention in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1882 he was sent by the British government to report on the conditions of the people in this county, and produced several books on the topic, including Egypt after the War. His work received the special recognition of Lord Dufferin, and his reports were published as a parliamentary blue-book.
He took a keen interest in Egyptian exploration, and was a member of the Society of Biblical Archæology. He was also a member of the committee of the Royal Literary Fund.
Stuart-Villiers married Mary Power in 1865. They had five sons and four daughters. He died in October 1895, aged 68, after falling from his boat on the River Blackwater. His wife survived him by twelve years and died in September 1907.
Publication
- Eve of the Deluge. London, 1851.
- Nile Gleanings. Concerning the Ethnology, History, and Art of Ancient Egypt,’ London, 1879.
- The Funeral Tent of an Egyptian Queen. London, 1882.
- Egypt after the War. London, 1883. Being The Narrative Of A Tour Of Inspection, Including Experiences Among The Natives, With Descriptions Of Their Homes And Habits.
- Adventures amidst the Equatorial Forests and Rivers of South America. London, 1891