Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue

The Right Honourable
The Earl Fortescue
KG PC

"Hugh, Earl Fortescue KG, Lord Lieutenant of Devon". Wearing Garter Star. Marble bust by Edward Bowring Stephens, 1861; Memorial Hall, West Buckland School, Devon
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
In office
13 March 1839  11 September 1841
Monarch Victoria
Prime Minister The Viscount Melbourne
Preceded by The Marquess of Normanby
Succeeded by The Earl de Grey
Personal details
Born 13 February 1783 (1783-02-13)
Died 14 September 1861 (1861-09-15)
Nationality British
Political party Whig
Spouse(s) (1) Lady Susan Ryder
(1796–1827)
(2) Elizabeth Geale
(c. 1805–1896)
Alma mater Brasenose College, Oxford
Arms of Fortescue: Azure, a bend engrailled argent plain cottised or. Motto: Forte Scutum Salus Ducum ("A Strong Shield is the Salvation of Leaders")[1]
Left: Statue of Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue (1783–1861), by Edward Bowring Stephens 1863, in Castle Yard, Exeter, Inscribed on plinth in capitals: "Hugh Earl Fortescue KG Lord Lieutenant of Devon". Right: Print published in Illustrated London News 1863: "Inauguration of the Fortescue Memorial in the Castle Yard, Exeter 1863". Now repositioned on grass verge on side of Castle Yard. The Earl had been Colonel of the 1st Devon Militia which was headquartered in Exeter Castle

Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue KG, PC (13 February 1783 – 14 September 1861), styled Viscount Ebrington from 1789 to 1841, was a British Whig politician. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1839 to 1841.

Background and education

Fortescue was the eldest son of Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue, and Hester Grenville, daughter of Prime Minister George Grenville. He was educated at Eton and Brasenose College, Oxford.

Political career

Fortescue first became an MP, for Barnstaple, just after his 21st birthday, and sat for various constituencies almost continuously until 1839. The latter year he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Fortescue, and then served under Lord Melbourne as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1839 to 1841 (when he succeeded his father in the earldom) and under Lord John Russell as Lord Steward from 1846 to 1850. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1839 and created a Knight of the Garter in 1856. Fortescue belonged to that section of the Whig party that welcomed much of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon hoping for radical change in Britain. After Napoleon's first abdication and exile to Elba he arranged visits by other prominent Whigs to the Emperor.

Portraits

A statue of the Earl stands in Exeter Castle Yard, and his marble bust is displayed on the staircase of the Memorial Hall in West Buckland School. 49 of the Fortescue family portraits were saved from the disastrous fire at Castle Hill of 9 March 1934 with minor smoke damage, but were shortly afterwards all destroyed by fire when the delivery lorry returning them from the restorer caught fire whilst parked overnight pending their return to Castle Hill.[2]

Co-founds West Buckland School

Foundation stone laid at West Buckland School by Earl Fortescue
"Devon County School, West Buckland, recently opened by Earl Fortescue". Print published in Illustrated London News, 1861
Portrait of Hugh Fortescue when Viscount Ebrington, painted between 1826–1841 by Frederick Christian Lewis Sr, after Joseph Slater. National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG D20597
Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue (1783–1861). Engraving by W Holl from a painting by George Hayter (1792–1871)

In 1858 together with Rev. J.L. Brereton, Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral and Rector of West Buckland, he founded the Devon County School, situated on land between West Buckland and East Buckland donated by him from his North Devon estate centred at Filleigh. The school was intended to provide a top quality education to local boys, including therefore the sons of many of his tenant farmers; it continues today as West Buckland School, an independent private school. A marble bust of Earl Fortescue, sculpted in 1861 by Edward Bowring Stephens (1815–82), stands on the staircase of the school's Memorial Hall.

Marriage & progeny

Lord Fortescue married twice:

Death & succession

Fortescue died in September 1861, aged 78, and was succeeded by his eldest son from his first marriage, Hugh Fortescue, 3rd Earl Fortescue.

Sources

External links

References

  1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.461
  2. Lauder, R. op.cit. p.81
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Edward Pellew, Bt
William Devaynes
Member of Parliament for Barnstaple
1804–1807
With: William Devaynes
William Taylor
Succeeded by
George Thellusson
William Taylor
Preceded by
William Shipley
Scrope Bernard
Member of Parliament for St Mawes
1807–1809
With: Scrope Bernard to 1808
Earl Gower from 1808
Succeeded by
Scrope Bernard-Morland
Earl Gower
Preceded by
Richard Griffin
Lord George Grenville
Member of Parliament for Buckingham
1812–1817
With: William Henry Fremantle
Succeeded by
James Hamilton Stanhope
William Henry Fremantle
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Dyke-Acland, Bt
Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
Member of Parliament for Devon
1818–1820
With: Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
Succeeded by
Sir Thomas Dyke-Acland, Bt
Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
Preceded by
John Fazakerley
John Peter Grant
Member of Parliament for Tavistock
1820–1830
With: John Peter Grant to 1826
Lord William Russell 1826–1830
Lord Russell from 1830
Succeeded by
Lord John Russell
Lord Russell
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bt
Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
Member of Parliament for Devon
1830–1832
With: Sir Thomas Dyke-Acland, Bt, to 1831
Lord John Russell from 1831
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for North Devon
1832–1839
With: Newton Fellowes to 1837
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bt from 1837
Succeeded by
Lewis Buck
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bt
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl Fortescue
Lord Lieutenant of Devon
1839–1861
Succeeded by
The Duke of Somerset
Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl of Mulgrave
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
1839–1841
Succeeded by
The Earl de Grey
Preceded by
The Earl of Liverpool
Lord Steward
1846–1850
Succeeded by
The Marquess of Westminster
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by
Hugh Fortescue
Earl Fortescue
1841–1861
Succeeded by
Hugh Fortescue
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Hugh Fortescue
Baron Fortescue
(writ in acceleration)
(descended by acceleration)

1839–1859
Succeeded by
Hugh Fortescue
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