Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel

The Right Honourable
The Lord Rendel

Rendel in 1880
Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire
In office
12 April 1880  29 March 1895
Preceded by Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn
Succeeded by Arthur Humphreys-Owen
Personal details
Born 2 July 1834
Plymouth, Devon
Died 4 June 1913 (1913-06-05) (aged 78)
London
Nationality British
Spouse(s) Ellen Hubbard (1838-1912)
Alma mater Oriel College, Oxford

Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel (2 July 1834 – 4 June 1913) was a British industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal politician. He sat as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire between 1880 and 1894 and was recognised as the leader of the Welsh MPs. Rendel was also involved in business and was a benefactor to University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, and served as its president from 1895 to 1913.

Background and education

Rendel was born at Plymouth, Devon, the son of the civil engineer James Meadows Rendel and his wife Catherine Jane, daughter of W. J. Harris.[1][2] He was the brother of Alexander Meadows Rendel and George Wightwick Rendel. He was educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford, graduating in 1856 with a fourth-class degree in classical studies.[3] He was called to the Bar in 1861,[3] but he was mostly involved in engineering, becoming manager of the London branch of the Armstrong gunnery company.[1]

Political career

Rendel was the Liberal Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire between 1880 and his retirement in March 1894.[1][2][4] Although an Englishman and an Anglican, he was popular in his Welsh-speaking constituency, and was nicknamed "the member for Wales" because of his vocal support for Welsh-related causes, such as the creation of the University of Wales. A close friend and associate of William Ewart Gladstone, he was recognised as the leader of the Welsh members of parliament.[1] He also supported disestablishment. On his retirement from the House of Commons in 1894 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Rendel, of Hatchlands in the County of Surrey.[5] Apart from his political career Rendel was a benefactor to University College of Wales at Aberystwyth and served as its president from 1895 to 1913.[1]

Family

Hatchlands Park, Surrey, the seat of Lord Rendel.

Rendel married Ellen Sophy, daughter of William Egerton Hubbard, in 1857. They had four daughters. The second daughter, the Honourable Maud Ernestine Rendel, married Henry Gladstone, the son of his close friend, William Ewart Gladstone. In 1888 Rendel acquired Hatchlands Park in Surrey from the Sumner family. Lady Rendel died in May 1912, aged 74. Rendel survived her by just over a year and died at his London home, 10 Palace Green, Kensington Palace Gardens, in June 1913, aged 78.[3] The peerage became extinct on his death as he had no sons.[2]

His eldest daughter, Rose Ellen, married Harry Goodhart, a former international footballer who became Professor of Latin at the University of Edinburgh. Their only son, Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel inherited Hatchlands[6] and became a celebrated architect.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel, at the Dictionary of Welsh Biography at the National Library for Wales
  2. 1 2 3 thepeerage.com Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel of Hatchlands
  3. 1 2 3 Grigg, John. "Rendel, Stuart, Baron Rendel (1834–1913)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, accessed 19 August 2013 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  4. leighrayment.com House of Commons: Mitcham to Motherwell South
  5. "No. 26501". The London Gazette. 6 April 1894. p. 1953.
  6. "East Clandon Conservation Area Study and Character Appraisal" (PDF). 2 Historical Development. Guildford Borough Council. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  7. Simonson, Robert. "Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel". Surrey History. Exploring Surrey's Past. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn
Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire
1880–1894
Succeeded by
Arthur Humphreys-Owen
Academic offices
Preceded by
The Lord Aberdare
President of the University College of Wales Aberystwyth
1895–1913
Succeeded by
Sir John Williams, Bt
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Rendel
1894–1913
Extinct

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