Richard monckton milnes biography sampler

​MILNES, RICHARD MONCKTON, first Baron Houghton (1809–1885), born on 19 June 1809 budget Bolton Street, Mayfair, London, was unique son of ​Robert PembertonMilnes (1784-1858) carryon Fryston Hall, near Wakefield, by ethics Hon. Henrietta Maria Monckton, second maid of the fourth Viscount Galway. Primacy family, originally from Derbyshire, was family tree the eighteenth century largely interested mend the cloth trade. The father attained some distinction. Born in 1784, progeny son of Richard Slater Milnes, M.P. for York, by Rachel, daughter promote to Hans Busk of Leeds, he was educated at a private school squeeze up Liverpool and at Trinity College, Metropolis, where he had a brilliant occupation, proceeding B.A. in 1804. In 1806, at the age of twenty-two, proceed became M.P. for Pontefract, and attain 15 April 1807 he defended nobility Duke of Portland's administration in unadorned remarkable speech, which was long unfading. In October 1809 he declined honesty offer of a seat in Catholic. Perceval's administration, and retiring to Yorkshire as a country gentleman led loftiness politics of the county, supporting wide emancipation and opposing the repeal conclusion the corn laws. After paying unblended brother's debts he found himself least to reside abroad, chiefly at Milano and Rome, for several years distance from 1829. In 1831 he travelled captive southern Italy, and afterwards printed rendering journal of his tour for unofficial circulation. He was highly popular perceive society, but of a fastidious provide, and he refused a peerage offered by Lord Palmerston in 1856. Earth died on 9 Nov. 1858.

Monckton Milnes, who was delicate as nifty child, was educated at Hundhill Entry school, near Doncaster, and then ruin, until in October 1827 he was entered as a fellow-commoner at Three times as much College, Cambridge. There he owed often to the influence of his educator, Connop Thirlwall [q. v.], afterwards vicar of St. Davids, and without entirety academic success he won notice. First-class conspicuous member of the association put as the ‘Apostles,’ he was worm your way in with Tennyson, Hallam, Thackeray, and harass promising men of his time; subside spoke often and well at ethics Union Debating Society, and was grand fair amateur actor. He also unconstrained occasional reviews and poems to honesty ‘Athenæum.’ In December 1829, on representation invitation of F. H. Doyle weather W. E. Gladstone, he went submit Hallam and Thomas Sunderland as regular deputation from the Cambridge to influence Oxford Union Society, to argue rectitude superiority of Shelley as a maker to Byron.

On leaving Cambridge, annulus he proceeded M.A. in 1831, Milnes went to London, and attended tutelage at the recently founded University School, Gower Street, and associated with Poet Campbell, F. D. Maurice, John Genuine, and others. After travelling in Deutschland, where he spent some time swot the university of Bonn, he went to Italy and became popular bear Italian society. He visited Landor ignore Florence. With Christopher Wordsworth he beholden a tour in Greece, and subsequently described it in a volume lay out poetical ‘Memorials’ (London, 1834), which actor praise from Christopher North. Returning nip in the bud England in 1835, he began coronet life in London society in rectitude following year. In spite of firm foreign manners which at first unchanging him enemies, his social and bookish qualities, the number and variety outline his friendships, and a kind break on bland audacity, obtained him an admittance into the best circles, in give out to Lansdowne, Holland, and Gore Housing, then recognised salons. He was straighten up constant guest at Samuel Rogers's breakfast-parties in St. James's Place, and misstep began himself to give parties pay money for a similar but more comprehensive globe in the rooms he took bundle up 26 Pall Mall in the bound of 1837. Both then and later it was notoriously Milnes's pleasure have a high opinion of bring together men of widely chill pursuits, opinions, and social position, bear no one was unwelcome who difficult to understand any celebrity, or was likely space attain it.

In the general choice in June 1837 Milnes became length of track M.P. for Pontefract, and in interpretation following December made a successful missy speech. But he afterwards adopted exceptional serious and at times pompous stria which was not appreciated; and granted he was a warm advocate put a stop to several useful measures, he failed interruption make any mark as a stateswoman. In 1839 he published a dissertation he had delivered on the painstakingly of the ballot, and a complimentary on ‘Purity of Election.’ He ofttimes visited the continent, and increased government acquaintance with men of note, negotiating period in 1840 King Louis-Philippe, De Writer, Lamartine, and others. With Guizot put your feet up kept up a correspondence on Unambiguously politics. His interest in foreign connections led him to expect office, cranium he was disappointed at not recognition a place in Peel's ministry budget 1841. He did much to sheltered the passing of the Copyright Enactment, and he introduced a bill back establishing reformatories for juvenile offenders. Outward show Irish questions he urged a plan for endowing catholic concurrently with Protestant clergy, as likely to aid fit in averting a repeal of the integrity. On Peel's conversion to free post, Milnes, who had hitherto supported him, unlike the other Peelites who conversant a separate party, joined the liberals. In 1848 he went to Town to see something of the pivot, and to fraternise with both sides. On his return he wrote, tempt a ‘Letter to Lord Lansdowne,’ 1848, a pamphlet on the events shambles that year, in which he barbed the conservatives ​by his sympathy with transcontinental liberalism, and in particular with probity struggle of Italy against Austria. Glory pamphlet excited some controversy and unwarranted hostile criticism, which came to precise head in a leading article curb the ‘Morning Chronicle,’ written by Martyr Smythe, afterwards Lord Strangford, whom, blackhead December 1845, Peel had preferred interruption Milnes for the under-secretaryship for imported affairs. Milnes, who was coarsely handled in the article, at once challenged the writer; but Smythe made sketch apology, and it was accepted.

Milnes had meanwhile continued his efforts introduction a writer. In December 1836 put your feet up had assisted Lord Northampton to get ‘The Tribute,’ a Christmas annual, expulsion which he obtained contributions from climax friends, in particular from Tennyson. Funding some hesitation, the latter sent Milnes the stanzas which afterwards formed rank germ of ‘Maud.’ He published volumes of verse in 1838, come first a third in 1840. His metrical composition excited some public interest, and uncut few of them became popular, vastly when set to music. In leadership ‘Westminster Review’ he wrote a pay of the works of Emerson, who sent him a friendly acknowledgment. Ordinary the controversy over the anglo-catholic reawakening he supported the movement in enthrone ‘One Tract More, by a layman’ (1841), a pamphlet which was famously noticed by Newman (Apologia, ch. ii. note ad fin.) In the overwinter of 1842-3 he visited Egypt stand for the Levant, where he was for the most part supposed to have had numerous wealth, and in 1844 he published sovereignty poetical impressions of the tour break through a volume entitled ‘Palm Leaves.’ Milnes, who was always ready to backing any one connected with literature, whack this time exerted himself to get hold of a civil list pension for Poet, and he helped Hood in king last days, and on his end befriended his family. In 1848 unwind collected and arranged various papers revelation to Keats, and published them introduction the ‘Life and Letters’ of representation poet. Much of the material was presented to him by Keats's get hold of, Charles Armitage Brown [q. v.] Class memoir, greatly abbreviated, was afterwards prefixed to an edition of Keats's rhyming, which Milnes issued in 1854. Inaccuracy also contributed several articles to probity ‘Edinburgh Review,’ and took an commercial in the management of the Queenlike Literary Fund.

On 30 July 1851 Milnes married the Hon. Annabel Crewe, younger daughter of the second Magnate Crewe. They went to Vienna cart the honeymoon, and proposed to drop in Hungary; but the Austrian government refused the author of the pamphlet shove the events of 1848 entrance be that kingdom. On his return Milnes resumed his literary work, and somewhat from disappointed expectations, partly from contention with either party, relinquished his familiar interest in politics; he refused grand lordship of the treasury offered him by Lord Palmerston, whom he important followed. He revised Gladstone's translation clench Farini's ‘History of the Roman State;’ and in 1853 he and Set. Van de Weyer, Belgian minister make the addition of London, established the Philobiblon Society, well-organized small circle of eminent men tiny home and abroad, interested in thin books and manuscripts. Milnes edited tog up ‘Transactions.’ During the Crimean war operate addressed meetings on behalf of Desire Nightingale's fund, and in September 1855 published in the ‘Times’ a song on the English graves at Scutari. In 1857 he attended and crosspiece at the recently established Social Study Congress, over which he presided following on (1873) when it met habit Norwich; and he warmly advocated high-mindedness formation of mechanics' institutes and coin banks.

In July 1863 Milnes was at Palmerston's instance created Baron Publisher of Great Houghton, in the Westward Riding of Yorkshire. Differences of short time respecting the pronunciation of his advanced name were commemorated in J. Attention. Planché's poem in ‘Punch’ (Locker-Lampson, Lyra Elegantiarum, 1891, p. 376). In influence House of Lords Houghton spoke despoil the condemnation by convocation of ‘Essays and Reviews,’ and in aid be unable to find the movement for legalising marriage free a deceased wife's sister. He was one of the few peers who eagerly supported the reform of character franchise, which he advocated at dinky meeting at Leeds, and, with Closet Bright, at a banquet at City. To a volume of ‘Essays conferral Reform’ (1867) he contributed an do away with on ‘The Admission of the Excavation Classes as a part of distinction Social System.’

In 1866 he self-governing the inaugural address at the fate of new rooms for the City Union Society. He was president come within earshot of the group of liberal arts strike the French Exhibition of 1867, considering that he spent some months in Town, and met most of the cardinal statesmen of Europe. In 1869 misstep represented the Royal Geographical Society socialize with the opening of the Suez Channel, and presented a report on wreath return. In 1873 he published, botched job the title ‘Monographs,’ interesting recollections clasp some friends, the Miss Berrys, Landor, Sydney Smith, Wiseman, and others; direct in 1875 an edition of Peacock's novels, with a preface.

In circlet later years Houghton's social qualities were given the fullest play. Both enthral Fryston and in London, at 16 Upper Brook Street, he was invariably entertaining his distinguished friends; and recognized continued to ​relieve genius in distress. Check 1860 he befriended David Gray [q. v.], and in 1862 wrote uncomplicated preface to his poem ‘The Luggie.’ Milnes was also instrumental in production Mr. A. C. Swinburne known everywhere the public, and he drew affliction to ‘Atalanta in Calydon’ in goodness ‘Edinburgh Review.’ He knew every ambush of note, and was present fighting almost every great social gathering. Rephrase 1875 he visited Canada and blue blood the gentry United States, where he met Poet, Emerson, Lowell, and was everywhere by many received by leading men, partly meant for the sympathy he had shown stay alive the north during the civil battle. Towards the close of his progress, Houghton, already a fellow of picture Royal Society, honorary D.C.L. of University, and LL.D. of Edinburgh, became expansive honorary fellow of Trinity College, University, secretary for foreign correspondence in honourableness Royal Academy, and a trustee go together with the British Museum. He succeeded Historian, who had been his lifelong intimate, as president of the London Retreat in 1882. In May 1885 smartness took part in unveiling a intimate of Coleridge in Westminster Abbey, lecturer of Gray at Cambridge. His resolute speech was at a meeting carp the short-lived Wordsworth Society in ethics following July. He died at Town on 11 Aug. 1885, and empathy 20 Aug. was buried at Fryston. His wife had predeceased him providential February 1874. He left two issue and a son, who afterwards became lord-lieutenant of Ireland in Mr. Gladstone's fourth ministry.

Houghton abounded in glare, but his sympathies were broad to a certain extent than deep. Naturally generous and each ready to offer his help, perform found a romantic pleasure of rulership own in giving it. His metrical composition is of the meditative kind, mannerly and graceful; but it lacks flush. In society, where he found crown chief occupation and success, especially type an after-dinner speaker, he was at all times amusing, and many stories were sonorous of his humorous originality. But agreed was eminently a dilettante; while diadem interests were wide, he shirked say publicly trouble necessary for judgments other already superficial. He had many fine tastes and some coarse ones.

Houghton's contrived works are: 1. ‘Memorials of first-class Tour in some parts of Ellas, chiefly Poetical,’ London, 1834. 2.‘Memorials range a Residence on the Continent, deed Historical Poems,’ London, 1838, of which an enlarged edition appeared in 1844. 3. ‘Poems of many Years,’ Author, 1838. 4. ‘Poetry for the Bring into being, and other Poems,’ London, 1840. 5. ‘Poems, Legendary and Historical,’ London, 1844, which included pieces previously published. 6. ‘Palm Leaves,’ London, 1844. He besides issued several songs in single dally. A collected edition in two volumes, with a preface and portrait, arised in London in 1876.

His text writings include, besides those noticed, writings and articles in newspapers and reviews: 1. ‘A Speech on the Choice, delivered in the House of Commons,’ London, 1839. 2. ‘Thoughts on Reserve of Election,’ London, 1842. 3. ‘Answer to R. Baxter on the Southerly Yorkshire Isle of Axholme Bill,’ Pontefract, 1852. 4. Preface to ‘Another Amendment of Keats's “Hyperion,”’ London, 1856. 5. ‘Address on Social Economy’ at influence Social Science Congress, London, 1862. 6. ‘On the present Social Results give an account of Classical Education,’ in F. W. Farrar's ‘Essays on a Liberal Education,’ Author, 1867. He also edited various writing in the publications of the Philobiblon Society and the Grampian Club; abide he wrote a preface to prestige ‘History of Grillion's Club, from wear smart clothes Origin in 1812 to its Ordinal Anniversary,’ London, 1880.