Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo
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Richard Southwell Bourke, K.P., G.M.S.I., 6th Earl of Mayo (21 February 1822–8 February 1872), known as Lord Naas between 1842 and 1867, was an Irish statesman and prominent member of the British Conservative Party.
Bourke was born in Dublin, the eldest son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo, and his wife Anne Charlotte, daughter of the Hon. John Jocelyn. His younger brother the Hon. Robert Bourke was also a successful politician. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. After travelling in Russia he entered parliament, and sat successively for Kildare, Coleraine and Cockermouth.
He was thrice appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland - in 1852, 1858 and 1866 - and in 1869 he became Viceroy of India. He consolidated the frontiers of India where he was popularly known as Lord Mayo and reorganised the country's finances; he also did much to promote irrigation, railways, forests and other useful public works. The European-oriented Mayo College at Ajmer was founded by him for the education of young Indian native chiefs, with £70,000 being subscribed by the chiefs themselves. While visiting the convict settlement at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, for the purpose of inspection, he was assassinated by Sher Ali, a Muslim convict[citation needed]. The Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, British India in the present day Pakistan was set up to commemorate Lord Mayo after his assassination in 1872.
Lord Mayo married Blanche Julia, daughter of George Wyndham, 1st Baron Leconfield, in 1848. He was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Richard. Lady Mayo died in 1918.
[edit] See also
- Viceroy of India
- Mayo College, Ajmer, India
- Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan)
[edit] References
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
- www.thepeerage.com
- Encyclopædia Britannica Article on Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th earl of Mayo
- Obituary & Photo at the Mayo College, Ajmer, India website
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard O'Ferrall Robert Archbold |
Member of Parliament for Kildare 1847–1852 |
Succeeded by Willian Cogan |
| Preceded by John Boyd |
Member of Parliament for Coleraine 1852–1857 |
Succeeded by John Boyd |
| Preceded by Henry Wyndham |
Member of Parliament for Cockermouth 1857–1868 |
Succeeded by Isaac Fletcher |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Meredyth Somerville |
Chief Secretary for Ireland 1852 |
Succeeded by Sir John Young |
| Preceded by Henry Arthur Herbert |
Chief Secretary for Ireland 1858–1859 |
Succeeded by Edward Cardwell |
| Preceded by Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue |
Chief Secretary for Ireland 1866–1868 |
Succeeded by John Wilson-Patten |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir John Lawrence |
Viceroy of India 1869–1872 |
Succeeded by Sir John Strachey, acting |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by Robert Bourke |
Earl of Mayo 1867–1872 |
Succeeded by Dermot Bourke |
