Alan Legge Gardner, 3rd Baron Gardner (29 January 1810 – 2 November 1883), was a British Whig politician.

Background

Gardner was the son of Admiral Alan Gardner, 2nd Baron Gardner. A viscountcy was to be conferred on his father in 1815, but he died before the patent had passed the Great Seal and the title was never given to his son. He did, however, manage to get his father's barony passed down to him instead of his father's other son, Mr Fenton Gardner, by establishing that Fenton was illegitimate.

Career

In his youth, Gardner was a member of the literary salon established by the Countess of Blessington and the Count D'Orsay. He was also a celebrated sportsman. He sat on the Whig benches in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

and served in the Whig administration of

Lord Melbourne William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, (15 March 177924 November 1848), in some sources called Henry William Lamb, was a British Whig politician who served as Home Secretary (1830–1834) and Prime Minister (1834 and 1835–1841). His first pre ...

as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1837 to 1841.

Family

Lord Gardner first married Frances Margaret Hughes (12 October 1814 – 3 December 1847) in 1835. The marriage was childless. After her death he married secondly the actress Julia Sarah Hayfield Fortescue (1817 - 3 November 1899 Brighton), daughter of Edward E. T. Fortescue, in December 1848 at St George's, Hanover Square, London. They had several children born before and after their marriage; as his former mistress, she was unacceptable in Victorian high society. His son Herbert Gardner, born two years before his parents' wedding, became a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

politician and was created Baron Burghclere in 1895. One of Lord Gardner's legitimate daughters, the Hon. Florence (7 Feb 1853 – 3 Aug 1934), was the wife of

William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow William Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow, (7 March 1853 – 23 October 1911), was a British Conservative politician. He held several governmental positions between 1880 and 1905 and was also Governor of New Zealand between 1889 and 1892. B ...

, sometime Governor-General of New Zealand; a granddaughter Lady Dorothy Onslow married Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax and became

Vicereine of India The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 19 ...

. Gardner died in November 1883, aged 73, when his titles became dormant. Lady Gardner died in 1899. Issue, according to Fortescue website: * a son (b 1842), possibly Col.

Alan Coulston Gardner Col. Alan Colstoun Gardner (19 November 1842 – 25 December 1907) was a British Liberal Party politician and soldier. He was a son of Alan Legge Gardner. Military career Capt Alan Gardner passed Staff College in 1872. He served in the 1 ...

(d 1907); he married and had issue two sons, but was illegitimate so could not inherit the 1798 barony. * a son (born 1843) * Herbert Gardner (1846-1921), who married Lady Winifred Byng, née Herbert, daughter of the 4th Earl of Carnarvon, and had issue 4 daughters. One daughter Evelyn was the first wife of

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires '' Decl ...

and was thus known as "She-Evelyn". Another daughter married

Geoffrey Hope-Morley, 2nd Baron Hollenden Geoffrey Hope-Morley, 2nd Baron Hollenden (28 January 1885 – 19 October 1977), was a British aristocrat who served as High Sheriff of the County of London. Early life He was the son of Samuel Hope Morley and Laura Marianne (née Birch) Morley ...

. * Hon. Florence Coulston Gardner (7 Feb 1853 – 3 Aug 1934),Born after an 1848 marriage in St. George's, Hanover Square, London, according to most peerage directories, but before an 1856 marriage per the Fortescue website . married

, sometime Governor-General of New Zealand, and had issue. *Hon. Evelyn Coulston Gardner (1856–1902), married 1881 William Fuller Maitland and had issue

Notes

References

* *Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. *

External links

*
Lord Gardner at the National Portrait Gallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Alan Gardner, 3rd Baron 1810 births 1883 deaths Barons in the Peerage of Ireland Barons in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Eldest sons of British hereditary barons