William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
Encyclopedia
William Reginald Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon PC (14 April 1807 – 18 November 1888), styled Lord Courtenay between 1835 and 1859, was a British
politician who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
from 1866 to 1867 and as President of the Poor Law Board
from 1867 to 1868.
and at Christ Church
, Oxford, and was called to the Bar, Lincoln's Inn
, in 1832.
as a Tory. However, when the Tories split over the Corn Laws
in 1846, he joined the Peelites. In 1849 Devon was appointed poor-law inspector and retired from the House of Commons
. He then served as secretary to the Poor Law Board
from 1850 to 1859. The latter year he succeeded his father and took his seat in the House of Lords
.
He had returned to the Conservative Party
(the official name of the Tory Party since the 1850s) before his succession, and when the party came to power in 1866 under the Earl of Derby
, Devon was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
(although without a seat in the cabinet) and admitted to the Privy Council
. He remained in this post until May the following year, when he became President of the Poor Law Board. However, in contrast to his predecessor in the post, Gathorne Hardy, he was not included in the cabinet this time either. Devon continued as President of the Poor Law Board until the Conservatives
lost power in December 1868. After this he stopped taking an active part in politics.
Apart from his participation in national politics, Devon was heavily involved in local affairs and charitable causes in his home county of Devon
. Regarded as the most influential man in the county, he notably served as a director and later as chairman of the Bristol and Exeter Railway. Known as "the good earl", a statue of him was erected in Exeter
, paid for by public subscription.
, in 1830. They had three sons and one daughter. Lord Devon died at his seat of Powderham Castle
in November 1888, aged 81. He was succeeded in the earldom by his youngest but only surviving son Edward
.
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...
politician who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
from 1866 to 1867 and as President of the Poor Law Board
Poor Law Board
The Poor Law Board was established in the United Kingdom in 1847 as a successor body to the Poor Law Commission overseeing the administration of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act...
from 1867 to 1868.
Background and education
Devon was the eldest son of William Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon and his first wife Harriet Leslie Pepys, daughter of Sir Lucas Pepys, 1st Baronet. He was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and at Christ Church
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...
, Oxford, and was called to the Bar, 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...
, in 1832.
Political career
In 1841 Devon was elected to Parliament for South DevonSouth Devon (UK Parliament constituency)
South Devon, formally known as the Southern Division of Devon, was parliamentary constituency in the county of Devon in England. From 1832 to 1885 it returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-Boundaries:In...
as a Tory. However, when the Tories split over the Corn Laws
Corn Laws
The Corn Laws were trade barriers designed to protect cereal producers in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland against competition from less expensive foreign imports between 1815 and 1846. The barriers were introduced by the Importation Act 1815 and repealed by the Importation Act 1846...
in 1846, he joined the Peelites. In 1849 Devon was appointed poor-law inspector and retired from 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...
. He then served as secretary to the Poor Law Board
Poor Law Board
The Poor Law Board was established in the United Kingdom in 1847 as a successor body to the Poor Law Commission overseeing the administration of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act...
from 1850 to 1859. The latter year he succeeded his father and took his seat in the House of Lords
House 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....
.
He had returned to the Conservative Party
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...
(the official name of the Tory Party since the 1850s) before his succession, and when the party came to power in 1866 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...
, Devon was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
(although without a seat in the cabinet) and admitted to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. He remained in this post until May the following year, when he became President of the Poor Law Board. However, in contrast to his predecessor in the post, Gathorne Hardy, he was not included in the cabinet this time either. Devon continued as President of the Poor Law Board until the Conservatives
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...
lost power in December 1868. After this he stopped taking an active part in politics.
Apart from his participation in national politics, Devon was heavily involved in local affairs and charitable causes in his home county of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. Regarded as the most influential man in the county, he notably served as a director and later as chairman of the Bristol and Exeter Railway. Known as "the good earl", a statue of him was erected in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, paid for by public subscription.
Family
Lord Devon married Lady Elizabeth Fortescue, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl FortescueHugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue
Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue was a British peer, the son of Matthew Fortescue, 2nd Baron Fortescue, younger half-brother of an earlier Hugh Fortescue , 1st Baron Fortescue, 14th Baron Clinton and 1st Earl Clinton.He married Hester Grenville , daughter of George Grenville, on 10 May 1782...
, in 1830. They had three sons and one daughter. Lord Devon died at his seat of Powderham Castle
Powderham Castle
Powderham Castle is located south of Exeter, Devon, England. The Powderham Estate, in which it is set, runs down to the western shores of the estuary of the River Exe between the villages of Kenton and Starcross....
in November 1888, aged 81. He was succeeded in the earldom by his youngest but only surviving son Edward
Edward Courtenay, 12th Earl of Devon
Edward Baldwin Courtenay, 12th Earl of Devon , styled Lord Courtenay between 1859 and 1888, was a British peer and Conservative politician.-Background:...
.