Edward Berkeley Portman, 1st Viscount Portman (9 July 1799 – 19 November 1888) was a British Whig politician. He was an active supporter of the

Royal Agricultural Society of England The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) promotes the scientific development of English agriculture. It was established in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science" and received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840. RASE is bas ...

from its commencement in 1838, and served as president in 1846, 1856, and 1862. He was a considerable breeder of Devon cattle and of improved Alderney cows.

Background and education

Portman was born on 9 July 1799 to Edward Portman, of

Bryanston Bryanston is a village and civil parish in north Dorset, England, situated on the River Stour west of Blandford Forum. In the 2011 census the parish had a population of 925. The village is adjacent to the grounds of Bryanston School, an inde ...

and

Orchard Portman Orchard Portman is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south of Taunton in the Somerset West and Taunton district. The village has a population of 150. The parish includes the hamlet of Thurlbear and the nearby Thurlbear ...

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

, and his first wife Lucy, elder daughter of Reverend Thomas Whitby of Cresswell Hall, Staffordshire. Portman was educated at

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England * Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States * Éton, a commune in the Meuse dep ...

and

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...

. At Christ Church, he graduated with first-class honours, B.A. 1821, M.A. 1826.

Political career

In 1823 Portman was elected to Parliament as a Whig for

Dorsetshire Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , Do ...

, a seat he held until 1832, and then represented the newly created constituency of

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary. An Civil parish#Ancient parishes, ancient parish and latterly a ...

from 12 December 1832 to March 1833. On 27 January 1837 Portman was raised to the peerage as Baron Portman of Orchard Portman, and became an active member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

. Lord Portman served as

Lord Lieutenant of Somerset This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. Since 1714, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Somerset. Lord Lieutenants of Somerset *John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1555 * Willia ...

from 22 May 1839 to June 1864. He was also a councillor and commissioner of the

Duchy of Cornwall The Duchy of Cornwall ( kw, Duketh Kernow) is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch obtains possession of the duchy and the title of 'Duke of Cornwall' at ...

(starting 19 August 1840), a councillor of

Duchy of Lancaster The Duchy of Lancaster is the private estate of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British sovereign as Duke of Lancaster. The principal purpose of the estate is to provide a source of independent income to the sovereign. The estate consists of ...

(on 13 February 1847) and as

Lord Warden of the Stannaries The Lord Warden of the Stannaries (from la, stannum for Tin, Sn) used to exercise judicial and military functions in Cornwall, England, and is still the official who, upon the commission of the monarch or Duke of Cornwall for the time being, h ...

from 20 January 1865 till his death. On 28 March 1873 he was further honoured when he was created Viscount Portman of Bryanston. Lord Portman died on 19 November 1888, aged 89, in Bryanston and was succeeded in the barony and viscountcy by his eldest son Henry Berkeley Portman. Another son,

Edwin Berkeley Portman Edwin Berkeley Portman (3 August 1830 – 27 April 1921) was an English barrister and Liberal politician. Portman was born at Bryanston, Dorset, the son of Edward Portman, 1st Viscount Portman and his wife Lady Emma Lascelles. He was educated at ...

, became Member of Parliament for North Devon.

Family

His father ( Edward Portman 31 January 1771 - 19 January 1823) died in 1823. He was a descendant of Sir William Portman,

Lord Chief Justice of England Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or a ...

between 1555 and 1557. Lord Portman married Lady Emma Lascelles, third daughter of

Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood DL (25 December 1767 – 24 November 1841), known as Viscount Lascelles from 1814 to 1820, was a British peer, slave plantation and other land owner, chiefly inherited art collector, and Member of Parliament. ...

, on 16 June 1827. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, William Henry Berkeley, Edwin Berkeley; Maurice Berkeley, a member of the Canadian parliament; Walter Berkeley, rector of Corton-Denham, Somerset. Emma died on 8 February 1865. Grandparent

Henry Portman Henry William Portman (died 11 January 1796) was an 18th-century housing developer, the ancestor of the Viscounts Portman. Biography He was the son and heir of Henry William Berkeley Portman (d.1761), MP, by his wife Anne Fitch. His grandfather ...

father Edward Portman (31 January 1771 – 19 January 1823) Mother Lucy Whitby (10 March 1778 – 25 March 1812) Issue Lady Emma Lascelles (16 March 1809 – 8 February 1865) married on 16 June 1827

References

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

Notes

External links

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Portman, Edward Berkeley Portman, 1st Viscount 1799 births 1888 deaths Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Whig (British political party) MPs for English constituencies Lord-Lieutenants of Somerset People educated at Eton College UK MPs 1820–1826 UK MPs 1826–1830 UK MPs 1830–1831 UK MPs 1831–1832 UK MPs 1832–1835 UK MPs who were granted peerages Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom

Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

British landowners Peers of the United Kingdom created by Queen Victoria Peers of the United Kingdom created by William IV 19th-century British businesspeople