Algernon West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Algernon Edward West, KCB (1832–1921)^[1] was Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Gladstone.

From 1880, he lived at the manor at Wanborough, Surrey. West entertained many political figures at the manor including Gladstone, Queen Victoria and Bismarck.

West was also a director of the South Eastern Railway and he caused a new station, named Wanborough but actually in Normandy, to be opened in 1891. In 1900, Wanborough Manor was passed onto Asquith until he became Prime Minister. In 1908, West returned to stay in the manor until his death in 1921.

West also had a lifelong fascination with various forms of insect life, and had a collection of considerable size, comprised mainly of beetles and wasps.^{[citation needed]}