Benjamin Hawes
Encyclopedia
Sir Benjamin Hawes was a British Whig politician. He was born in 1797 to Benjamin Hawes and educated at a private school in Putney. He was a grandson of William Hawes, founder of the Royal Humane Society
. In 1818 he entered his father's business of soap-boiling, and despite spending relatively little time in the industry was later known in parliament as 'Hawes the Soap-Boiler'.. He married Sophia Brunel, daughter of the famous engineer Marc Brunel and they had several children. He became a magistrate for Surrey in 1828 and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Lambeth
at the 1832 general election
. As a member of parliament he proposed several radical changes, and was the instigator and an initial member of the Royal Fine Art Commission. Under the government of John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
he was made Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
rather than a full cabinet minister in an attempt to appease Henry Grey
, the Secretary of State
. When it was revealed Grey would prefer Charles Buller
Hawes offered to resign.
He was defeated in Lambeth election at the 1847 general election
and was instead elected for the corrupt seat of Kinsale
by only three votes. He resigned on 25 October 1851 by appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, and was appointed to the unelected position of Deputy Secretary at War, a position he held till 1857. He died on 15 May 1862.
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
. In 1818 he entered his father's business of soap-boiling, and despite spending relatively little time in the industry was later known in parliament as 'Hawes the Soap-Boiler'.. He married Sophia Brunel, daughter of the famous engineer Marc Brunel and they had several children. He became a magistrate for Surrey in 1828 and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Lambeth
Lambeth (UK Parliament constituency)
Lambeth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Lambeth district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-History:...
at the 1832 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
. As a member of parliament he proposed several radical changes, and was the instigator and an initial member of the Royal Fine Art Commission. Under the government of John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
he was made Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies....
rather than a full cabinet minister in an attempt to appease Henry Grey
Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey
Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey , known as Viscount Howick from 1807 until 1845, was an English statesman.-Background:Grey was the eldest son of Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by his wife the Hon...
, the Secretary of State
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
The Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a British cabinet level position responsible for the army and the British colonies . The Department was created in 1801...
. When it was revealed Grey would prefer Charles Buller
Charles Buller
Charles Buller , was a British barrister, politician and reformer.-Background and education:Born in Calcutta, British India, Buller was the son of Charles Buller , a member of a well-known Cornish family, and Barbara Isabella Kirkpatrick, daughter of General William Kirkpatrick, considered an...
Hawes offered to resign.
He was defeated in Lambeth election at the 1847 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1847
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
and was instead elected for the corrupt seat of Kinsale
Kinsale (UK Parliament constituency)
Kinsale was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland, returning one MP. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801.-Boundaries:...
by only three votes. He resigned on 25 October 1851 by appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, and was appointed to the unelected position of Deputy Secretary at War, a position he held till 1857. He died on 15 May 1862.