Arthur Dyke Acland
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Herbert Dyke Acland, 13th Baronet PC (13 October 1847 – 9 October 1926) was a Liberal
politician and political author. He is best remembered for his involvement with educational issues and served as Vice President of the Council of Education
under William Ewart Gladstone
and the Earl of Rosebery
between 1892 and 1895.
, near Porlock
, Somerset
, the second son of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet
, and Mary, daughter of Sir Charles Mordaunt, 8th Baronet. Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 12th Baronet
, was his elder brother. He was educated at Rugby
and Christ Church, Oxford
, and was called to the Bar
, Inner Temple
, in 1867.
in the Church of England
in 1872 and a priest in 1874. However, to take up a political career, Acland retired from holy orders
in 1879. He served in a number of posts at various colleges at Oxford from 1877 to 1885. Most notable, perhaps, was his administration, from 1878 onwards, of the Oxford Extension Lectures, which both furthered his grounding in the education field and brought him into close contact with the industrial classes in the North of England, who would become his political base. In 1886 he served as President of the second day of the Co-operative Congress
.
. The incongruity of the adoption was increased by the fact that the Yorkshire
town was several hundred miles from Acland's home in Devon
. Nonetheless, he was easily elected in 1885 and remained Member of Parliament
for Rotherham until the end of his political career in 1899.
Upon entering Parliament, Dyke Acland continued to interest himself in the educational field, becoming one of the principal sponsors of the 1889 Welsh Intermediate Education Act, making the County Councils in Wales
responsible for education – a reform not introduced in England until 1902. In 1892, William Ewart Gladstone
, taking office as Prime Minister for the fourth time appointed Dyke Acland Vice President of the Council of Education
, with a seat in the cabinet. His cabinet status gave him effective control of the educational authorities (The Council President
, Lord Kimberley
, was a figurehead). He was sworn of the Privy Council at the same time.
Dyke Acland's principal legislative achievements were both enacted in 1893: The Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act, and the Elementary Education (School Attendance) Act (which made education compulsory up to the age of eleven). The same year, he promulgated the Evening Continuation School Code, which laid the foundation for adult education, and issued Circular 321, which required inspectors to submit a report to the Education Department about the condition of buildings and apparatus in each public elementary school.
Dyke Acland's health was not equal to the tasks he undertook, and he experienced increasing physical and mental difficulties, which continued even after he left office after the Liberals' defeat in the General Election
of 1895. Although re-elected himself, he continued to experience difficulties and effectively resigned from Parliament in 1899 by requesting appointment to, and being appointed Steward of the Manor of Northstead, a nominal office of profit under the Crown.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and political author. He is best remembered for his involvement with educational issues and served as Vice President of the Council of Education
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
under William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
and the Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
between 1892 and 1895.
Background and education
Dyke Acland was born at HolnicoteHolnicote Estate
Holnicote Estate is a National Trust property consisting of of Exmoor National Park situated in West Somerset, England. The property has been in the ownership of the National Trust since 1932, when it was donated by the Acland family....
, near Porlock
Porlock
Porlock is a coastal village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated in a deep hollow below Exmoor, west of Minehead. The parish, which includes Hawkcombe and Doverhay, has a population of 1,377....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, the second son of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet FRS was a British educational reformer and a politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1837 to 1886 initially as a Tory and later, after an eighteen year gap, as a Liberal....
, and Mary, daughter of Sir Charles Mordaunt, 8th Baronet. Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 12th Baronet
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 12th Baronet
Sir Charles Thomas Dyke Acland, 12th Baronet DL, JP was a British politician and Barrister-at-Law.Born in Queen Anne Street in London, he was the son of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet and Mary Mordaunt...
, was his elder brother. He was educated at Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, and was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
, Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, in 1867.
Early career
After receiving his degree, Dyke Acland remained at Oxford and became a lecturer and tutor at Keble College. He became a deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in 1872 and a priest in 1874. However, to take up a political career, Acland retired from holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in 1879. He served in a number of posts at various colleges at Oxford from 1877 to 1885. Most notable, perhaps, was his administration, from 1878 onwards, of the Oxford Extension Lectures, which both furthered his grounding in the education field and brought him into close contact with the industrial classes in the North of England, who would become his political base. In 1886 he served as President of the second day of the Co-operative Congress
Co-operative Congress
The Co-operative Congress is the national conference of the UK Co-operative Movement. The first of the modern congresses took place in 1869 following a series of meetings called the "Owenite Congress" in the 1830s...
.
Parliamentary career
The son of one of the wealthiest landowners in England, Dyke Acland was adopted as the Liberal candidate for the industrial constituency of RotherhamRotherham (UK Parliament constituency)
Rotherham is a borough constituency covering the town of Rotherham in South Yorkshire. It returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
. The incongruity of the adoption was increased by the fact that the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
town was several hundred miles from Acland's home in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. Nonetheless, he was easily elected in 1885 and remained Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Rotherham until the end of his political career in 1899.
Upon entering Parliament, Dyke Acland continued to interest himself in the educational field, becoming one of the principal sponsors of the 1889 Welsh Intermediate Education Act, making the County Councils in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
responsible for education – a reform not introduced in England until 1902. In 1892, William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, taking office as Prime Minister for the fourth time appointed Dyke Acland Vice President of the Council of Education
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
, with a seat in the cabinet. His cabinet status gave him effective control of the educational authorities (The Council President
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
, Lord Kimberley
John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley
John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley KG , PC , known as the Lord Wodehouse from 1846 to 1866, was a British Liberal politician...
, was a figurehead). He was sworn of the Privy Council at the same time.
Dyke Acland's principal legislative achievements were both enacted in 1893: The Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act, and the Elementary Education (School Attendance) Act (which made education compulsory up to the age of eleven). The same year, he promulgated the Evening Continuation School Code, which laid the foundation for adult education, and issued Circular 321, which required inspectors to submit a report to the Education Department about the condition of buildings and apparatus in each public elementary school.
Dyke Acland's health was not equal to the tasks he undertook, and he experienced increasing physical and mental difficulties, which continued even after he left office after the Liberals' defeat in the General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
of 1895. Although re-elected himself, he continued to experience difficulties and effectively resigned from Parliament in 1899 by requesting appointment to, and being appointed Steward of the Manor of Northstead, a nominal office of profit under the Crown.