Sir Robert Gray Cornish Mowbray, 2nd Baronet, DL (21 May 1850 – 23 July 1916), was a British

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

politician.

Early life

Mowbray was the eldest son of the

Father of the House of Commons Father of the House is a title that has been traditionally bestowed, unofficially, on certain members of some legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the title refers to the longest continuously- ...

Sir John Mowbray, 1st Baronet Sir John Robert Mowbray, 1st Baronet PC (3 June 1815 – 22 April 1899), known as John Cornish until 1847, was a British Conservative politician and long-serving Member of Parliament, eventually serving as Father of the House. Family and educ ...

, and his wife Elizabeth Grey (née Mowbray). Among his siblings were his younger brothers, Reginald Ambrose Mowbray, later the 3rd Baronet, and the Reverend Edmund George Lionel Mowbray, later the 4th Baronet. His paternal grandparents were Robert Stirling Cornish and the former Marianne Powning. His mother was the daughter, and sole heir, of George Isaac Mowbray of

Bishopwearmouth Bishopwearmouth is a former village and parish which now constitutes the west side of Sunderland City Centre, merging with the settlement as it expanded outwards in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is home to the Sunderland Minster church, which ...

and the former Elizabeth Gray. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

(1863–8) before graduating from

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the f ...

with a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

degree in 1872. He was gazetted as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

in the part-time

Royal Berkshire Militia The Royal Berkshire Militia was an auxiliary military regiment in the county of Berkshire in Southern England. From their formal organisation as Trained Bands, in 1572 and their service during the Armada Crisis and in the English Civil War, t ...

on 1 June 1872, but he never joined the regiment for its annual training and resigned on 29 April 1874. He became a

Fellow of All Souls All Souls College (official name: College of the Souls of All the Faithful Departed) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Unique to All Souls, all of its members automatically become fellows (i.e., full members of t ...

in 1873 and a

Barrister-at-law A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and givin ...

of the

Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wal ...

in 1876. He served as secretary of the Royal Commission on the

Stock Exchange A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares of stock, bonds and other financial instruments. Stock exchanges may also provide facilities for th ...

in 1876.

Emma Elizabeth Thoyts Emma Elizabeth Thoyts (1860–1949), aka Mrs. John Hauntenville Cope, was an English palaeographer, amateur historian, and genealogist. Biography Emma Elizabeth Thoyts was born in Bryanston Square, Marylebone in Middlesex on 8 July 1860, the ...

, ''History of the Royal Berkshire Militia (Now 3rd Battalion Royal Berks Regiment)'', Sulhamstead, Berks, 1897/Scholar Select, ISBN 978-1-37645405-5, pp. 194, 299–300.

Career

He was elected to Parliament for

Prestwich Prestwich ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury. Historically part of Lancashire, Prestwich was the seat of the ancient parish o ...

at the 1886 general election, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1895 general election. From 1887 til 1892 he was

Parliamentary Private Secretary A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom who acts as an unpaid assistant to a minister or shadow minister. They are selected from backbench MPs as the 'eyes and ears' of the minister in the H ...

to George Goschen,

Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...

. He returned to the House of Commons at an unopposed by-election in March 1900 for the

Brixton Brixton is a district in south London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th ce ...

constituency, and held that seat until he stood down at the

1906 general election The following elections occurred in the year 1906. Asia * 1906 Persian legislative election Europe * 1906 Belgian general election * 1906 Croatian parliamentary election * Denmark ** 1906 Danish Folketing election ** 1906 Danish Landsting ele ...

. He lived at 'Warennes Wood' at Stratfield Mortimer in

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

and was appointed a deputy lieutenant of that county in 1900. He was a member of the Royal Commission on Opium in India from 1893 to 1895, and a member of the

Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure The Welby Commission was a group set up by the British Government to investigate wasteful spending in India. Established in 1895, its official name was the Royal Commission on the Administration of Expenditure of India. The Commission membersh ...

in 1896.Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors).
Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage
' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. pp. 620, 725, 770.

Personal life

Mowbray died, unmarried, in July 1916, aged 66.

References

External links

* *
Mowbray, Sir Robert Gray Cornish (1850–1916) 2nd Baronet, barrister and politician
at The National Archives {{DEFAULTSORT:Mowbray, Sir Robert, 1st Baronet 1850 births 1916 deaths Royal Berkshire Militia officers Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Deputy Lieutenants of Berkshire UK MPs 1886–1892 UK MPs 1892–1895 UK MPs 1900–1906 People from West Berkshire District Presidents of the Oxford Union