Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey-FitzGerald, GCSI,

GCIE The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: #Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) #Knight Commander ( KCIE) #Companion ( CIE) No appoi ...

, PC (1818 – 28 June 1885), was an

Anglo-Irish Anglo-Irish people () denotes an ethnic, social and religious grouping who are mostly the descendants and successors of the English Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. They mostly belong to the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the establis ...

politician and colonial administrator. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1858 and 1859 and as

Governor of Bombay Until the 18th century, Bombay consisted of seven islands separated by shallow sea. These seven islands were part of a larger archipelago in the Arabian sea, off the western coast of India. The date of city's founding is unclear—historians tr ...

between 1867 and 1872.

Background and education

FitzGerald was the illegitimate son of the 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey. He was educated at both

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 ...

and

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...

, graduating with a degree in Classics in 1837.

Political career

FitzGerald was elected member for

Horsham Horsham is a market town on the upper reaches of the River Arun on the fringe of the Weald in West Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester. Nearby to ...

in 1848, but was unseated on petition. In 1852 he was once again elected for Horsham and was able to hold the seat until 1865. He served under The 14th Earl of Derby as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1858 and 1859. In 1866 he was appointed

, admitted to the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

and (17 August 1887) made a Knight Commander of the

Order of the Star of India The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: # Knight Grand Commander (GCSI) # Knight Commander ( KCSI) # Companion ( CSI) No appointments ...

, and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. On his return to Britain, he again represented Horsham in parliament from 1874 to 1875. In 1875, he was appointed Chief Charity Commissioner. He married Maria Seymour, daughter of Edward Seymour, in 1840 and had a son and daughter. Buried Maker Church E Cornwall (1910)

References

*''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

External links

* * 1818 births 1885 deaths Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Governors of Bombay UK MPs 1847–1852 UK MPs 1852–1857 UK MPs 1857–1859 UK MPs 1859–1865 UK MPs 1874–1880 Members of the Bombay Legislative Council Eldest sons of British hereditary barons {{England-UK-MP-stub

Background and education

Political career

See also

References

External links