Sir John Crampton, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton, 2nd Baronet, KCB
(1805– 7 December 1886), was a British
diplomat, Ambassador to the United States from 1852 to 1856 and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia from 1858 to 1860.
and at Trinity College
, Dublin, and became a career diplomat.
He should not be confused with his cousin John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton (1817–1888), a clergy
man of the Church of Ireland
. Both were descended from John Fiennes Twistleton Crampton (1732–1792), who was the son of the Reverend John Crampton (1706–1771), Archdeacon
of Tuam
, by his marriage to Charlotte Fiennes Twisleton (1710–1776), a daughter of Colonel
Fiennes Twisleton, 11th Baron Saye and Sele
(ca. 1670–1730).
, St Petersburg, Brussels
, and Vienna
. In January, 1852, he succeeded Sir Henry Bulwer
as head of the Washington mission. He was obliged to resign in 1856, on the demand of the U. S. Government, which accused him of attempting to enlist recruits for the British Army
during the Crimean War
. As some consolation, Crampton was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
(KCB) on 20 September 1856.
His later postings included serving as British Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary at Hanover, from 2 March 1857 until early in 1858, then returned to St Petersburg as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Russian Empire
from 31 March 1858 to 1860. He was finally posted as Minister to Madrid, where he served from 11 December 1860. He resigned from his post in Spain with effect from 1 July 1869, when he retired with a pension, after more than forty years' diplomatic service.
Crampton succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet
on 10 June 1858. He died on 7 December 1886 at Bushy Park, Enniskerry
, County Wicklow
, aged 81.
, a daughter of the Irish
author and composer Michael William Balfe
(1808–1870), a protégée of Gioachino Rossini, and of Lina Roser, a singer.
In 1860, during Crampton's posting in Madrid, his wife eloped with the 15th Duke of Frías
, whom she married in 1864 after Crampton had divorced her in 1863. The affair was considered a scandal by Queens Victoria
and Isabel. The 16th and 17th Dukes of Frías were the sons of Victoria Crampton's second marriage.
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...
(1805– 7 December 1886), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat, Ambassador to the United States from 1852 to 1856 and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia from 1858 to 1860.
Early life
The son of Sir Philip Crampton, 1st Baronet, a Dublin doctor and scientist, one of the founders of the Pitt Street Institution in Dublin, Crampton was educated at EtonEton 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 at Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin, and became a career diplomat.
He should not be confused with his cousin John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton (1817–1888), a clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. Both were descended from John Fiennes Twistleton Crampton (1732–1792), who was the son of the Reverend John Crampton (1706–1771), Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, by his marriage to Charlotte Fiennes Twisleton (1710–1776), a daughter of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Fiennes Twisleton, 11th Baron Saye and Sele
Baron Saye and Sele
Baron Saye and Sele is a title in the Peerage of England. It is thought to have been created by letters patent in 1447 for James Fiennes for his services in the Hundred Years' War. The patent creating the original barony was lost, so it was assumed that the barony was created by writ, meaning that...
(ca. 1670–1730).
Career
Crampton was appointed as Secretary of the British legation at Washington in July, 1845, after previous diplomatic service in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, St Petersburg, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and 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...
. In January, 1852, he succeeded Sir Henry Bulwer
Henry Bulwer, 1st Baron Dalling and Bulwer
Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer, 1st Baron Dalling and Bulwer GCB, PC was a British Liberal politician, diplomat and writer.-Background and education:...
as head of the Washington mission. He was obliged to resign in 1856, on the demand of the U. S. Government, which accused him of attempting to enlist recruits for 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...
during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. As some consolation, Crampton was appointed a Knight Commander 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...
(KCB) on 20 September 1856.
His later postings included serving as British Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary at Hanover, from 2 March 1857 until early in 1858, then returned to St Petersburg as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
from 31 March 1858 to 1860. He was finally posted as Minister to Madrid, where he served from 11 December 1860. He resigned from his post in Spain with effect from 1 July 1869, when he retired with a pension, after more than forty years' diplomatic service.
Crampton succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet
Crampton Baronets
The Crampton Baronetcy, of Dublin, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 14 March 1839 for the Irish surgeon and anatomist Philip Crampton. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet, who was a prominent diplomat...
on 10 June 1858. He died on 7 December 1886 at Bushy Park, Enniskerry
Enniskerry
Enniskerry is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It had a population of 2,672 at the 2006 census.- Location :...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, aged 81.
Marriage
On 31 March 1860, Crampton married Victoria Balfe y Roser (1837–1871), who had been born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a daughter of the Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
author and composer Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe was an Irish composer, best-remembered for his opera The Bohemian Girl.After a short career as a violinist, Balfe pursued an operatic singing career, while he began to compose. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he composed 38 operas, almost 250 songs and other works...
(1808–1870), a protégée of Gioachino Rossini, and of Lina Roser, a singer.
In 1860, during Crampton's posting in Madrid, his wife eloped with the 15th Duke of Frías
Dukedom of Frías
Duke of Frías is a hereditary title created in 1492 by King Ferdinand II of Aragon. It became one of the most important titles in Spain.The House of Velasco was one of the most powerful and influential noble Castilian families of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Era. Its original...
, whom she married in 1864 after Crampton had divorced her in 1863. The affair was considered a scandal by Queens Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and Isabel. The 16th and 17th Dukes of Frías were the sons of Victoria Crampton's second marriage.
External links
- American Material in the Crampton Papers, 1844-1856: the private and confidential correspondence of Sir John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton, Bart, KCB, selected by Mary Silverstein, introduced by Colin Bonwick; from the Bodleian LibraryBodleian LibraryThe Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, Oxford - La Casa de Velasco
- Crampton 2 (Microfilms of the Papers of Sir John Crampton as Ambassador to the United States of America)
- p. 108