Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax
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Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax (December 20, 1800–August 8, 1885), known between 1846 and 1866 as Sir Charles Wood, Bt, was an English politician.
A Liberal, Wood served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Lord John Russell's government (1846 - 1852), as President of the Board of Control under Lord Aberdeen (1852-1855), as First Lord of the Admiralty in Lord Palmerston's first administration (1855-1858), and as Secretary of State for India in Palmerston's second government (1859–1866). He was created Viscount Halifax in 1866.
Wood was married to Mary Grey, daughter of Earl Grey, and was the father of Charles Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax.
[edit] Wood's despatch
As the President of the Board of Control, Charles Wood did a yeoman's job in spreading education in India when in 1854 he sent a despatch to Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-general of India. It was recommended therein that:
- An education department was to be set in every province.
- Universities on the model of the London university be established in big cities such as Bombay, Calcuta and Madras.
- At least one government school be opened in every district.
- Affiliated private schools should be given grant in aid.
- The Indian natives should be given training in their mother tongue also.
In accordance with the wood's despatch, Education Departments were established in every province and universities were opened at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857 and in Punjab in 1882 and at Allahbad 1887.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Duncombe |
Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby 1826–1831 |
Succeeded by John Villiers Shelley |
| Preceded by John Calcraft James Ewing |
Member of Parliament for Wareham 1831–1832 |
Succeeded by John Hales Calcraft |
| Preceded by None |
Member of Parliament for Halifax 1832–1865 |
Succeeded by Edward Akroyd |
| Preceded by John Greenwood Reginald Vyner |
Member of Parliament for Ripon with Robert Kearsley 1865–1866 |
Succeeded by Robert Kearsley Lord John Hay |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Edward Ellice |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 1832–1834 |
Succeeded by Sir George Clerk, Bt |
| Preceded by George Robert Dawson |
First Secretary of the Admiralty 1835–1839 |
Succeeded by Richard O'Ferrall |
| Preceded by Henry Goulburn |
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1846–1852 |
Succeeded by Benjamin Disraeli |
| Preceded by John Charles Herries |
President of the Board of Control 1852–1855 |
Succeeded by Robert Vernon Smith |
| Preceded by Sir James Graham, Bt |
First Lord of the Admiralty 1855–1858 |
Succeeded by Sir John Pakington, Bt |
| Preceded by Lord Stanley |
Secretary of State for India 1859–1866 |
Succeeded by Lord Ripon |
| Preceded by The Earl of Kimberley |
Lord Privy Seal 1870–1874 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Malmesbury |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by New Creation |
Viscount Halifax 1866–1885 |
Succeeded by Charles Wood |
| Preceded by Francis Wood |
Baronet (of Barnsley) 1846–1885 |
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