Edward Harcourt
Encyclopedia
Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt (10 October 1757 – 5 November 1847) was an English clergyman who was Bishop of Carlisle
from 1791 to 1807, and then Archbishop of York
until his death.
He was the third son of the George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon
(1710–1780), and took the additional name of Harcourt on succeeding to the property of his cousin, the last Earl Harcourt
, in 1831.
, Derbyshire on 10 October 1757. He was educated at Westminster School
; matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford
on 2 July 1774 ; was elected fellow of All Souls College in 1777 ; and graduated B.C.L. 27 April 1786, and D.C.L. 4 May following. After his ordination he was instituted to the family living of Sudbury
. He became a canon of Christ Church, Oxford
, 13 October 1785, and a prebendary
of Gloucester
on 10 November in the same year . He resigned his prebendal stall in 1791, but held his other appointments to 1808.
On 18 August 1791 he was nominated Bishop of Carlisle
in succession to Dr. John Douglas, and was consecrated on 6 November following. For 16 years he administered the affairs of the see of Carlisle with good sense and discretion, spending more than the whole income of the see upon the wants of his diocese.
on 19 January 1808. In the same year, on 20 January, he was gazetted a privy councillor, and made Lord High Almoner to George III, an office which he also held under Queen Victoria's reign.
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Harcourt was a member of the queen's council who had charge of George III during his illness. He was an eloquent speaker, and occasionally spoke in the House of Lords
on ecclesiastical matters, but usually abstained from political contentions. He lived under five successive monarchs, and was respected for benevolence and simplicity of character. On 15 January 1831 he took the surname of Harcourt only on inheriting the large estates of the Harcourt family, which came to him on the death of his cousin, Field-marshal William, third and last Earl Harcourt
.
In 1835 he was appointed one of the first members of the ecclesiastical commission. In 1838 he was offered the renewal of the Harcourt peerage, but declined it, not wishing to be fettered in his parliamentary votes. York Minster
was twice burnt down during his primacy, 1829 and 1841, and he contributed largely to both restorations. Archbishop Harcourt preached his valedictory sermon in York Minster on 13 November 1838. However Harcourt continued to enjoy good health, and as late as 1 November 1847 visited York and inspected the repairs of the chapterhouse. He died at the palace, Bishopthorpe
, near York
, on 5 November 1847, and was buried at Stanton Harcourt
, Oxfordshire, 13 November
, and they had sixteen children. His wife died at Bishopthorpe Palace
on 16 November 1832, aged 72.
His second son, the Rev. Levesox Vernon Harcourt, was chancellor of York and the author of The Doctrine of the Deluge,, and of other theological works. His fourth son was William Vernon Harcourt
, the founder of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
. His eighth son was Admiral Octavius Henry Cyril Harcourt
whilst his youngest daughter, Georgiana
, distinguished herself as a translator.
The children included:
and Prince Adolphus – the Duke of Cambridge
, the Duke of Cumberland
(later Ernest Augustus I of Hanover), and the Duke of Wellington
) at his house in Grosvenor Square
on 23 February 1821. On the same night the Cato Street conspirators
had designed the murder of the cabinet ministers at the house adjoining Harcourt's, where the ministers had agreed to dine with Lord Harrowby
.
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
from 1791 to 1807, and then Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
until his death.
He was the third son of the George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon
George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon
George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon was a British politician.Vernon was the son of Henry Vernon, of Sudbury, Derbyshire, and his wife Anne, daughter and heiress of Thomas Pigott by his wife Mary, sister and heiress of Sir Peter Venables, Baron of Kinderton, Cheshire...
(1710–1780), and took the additional name of Harcourt on succeeding to the property of his cousin, the last Earl Harcourt
William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt
Field Marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, GCB was a British nobleman and soldier. He was the younger son of Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt.-Seven Years War:...
, in 1831.
Biography
Harcourt was born at Sudbury HallSudbury Hall
Sudbury Hall is a country house in Sudbury, Derbyshire, England.Sudbury Hall is one the country's finest Restoration mansions and has Grade I listed building status....
, Derbyshire on 10 October 1757. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
; matriculated at 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...
on 2 July 1774 ; was elected fellow of All Souls College in 1777 ; and graduated B.C.L. 27 April 1786, and D.C.L. 4 May following. After his ordination he was instituted to the family living of Sudbury
Sudbury, Derbyshire
Sudbury is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England, located approximately to the south of Ashbourne. It is part of the Derbyshire Dales district. The £0.5m A50 bypass opened in 1972...
. He became a canon of 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...
, 13 October 1785, and a prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
on 10 November in the same year . He resigned his prebendal stall in 1791, but held his other appointments to 1808.
On 18 August 1791 he was nominated Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
in succession to Dr. John Douglas, and was consecrated on 6 November following. For 16 years he administered the affairs of the see of Carlisle with good sense and discretion, spending more than the whole income of the see upon the wants of his diocese.
Archbishop of York
After the death of Archbishop William Markiam. Harcourt was nominated on 26 November 1807 as archbishop of York, and was confirmed in St. James's Church, WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
on 19 January 1808. In the same year, on 20 January, he was gazetted a privy councillor, and made Lord High Almoner to George III, an office which he also held under Queen Victoria's reign.
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on ecclesiastical matters, but usually abstained from political contentions. He lived under five successive monarchs, and was respected for benevolence and simplicity of character. On 15 January 1831 he took the surname of Harcourt only on inheriting the large estates of the Harcourt family, which came to him on the death of his cousin, Field-marshal William, third and last Earl Harcourt
William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt
Field Marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, GCB was a British nobleman and soldier. He was the younger son of Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt.-Seven Years War:...
.
In 1835 he was appointed one of the first members of the ecclesiastical commission. In 1838 he was offered the renewal of the Harcourt peerage, but declined it, not wishing to be fettered in his parliamentary votes. York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
was twice burnt down during his primacy, 1829 and 1841, and he contributed largely to both restorations. Archbishop Harcourt preached his valedictory sermon in York Minster on 13 November 1838. However Harcourt continued to enjoy good health, and as late as 1 November 1847 visited York and inspected the repairs of the chapterhouse. He died at the palace, Bishopthorpe
Bishopthorpe
Bishopthorpe is a village and civil parish three miles south of York in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is close to the River Ouse, and has a population of 3,174. Prior to 1996 it was part of the Selby district...
, near York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, on 5 November 1847, and was buried at Stanton Harcourt
Stanton Harcourt
Stanton Harcourt is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about southeast of Witney and west of Oxford.-Archaeology:Within the parish of Stanton Harcourt is a series of paleochannel deposits buried beneath the second gravel terrace of the river Thames...
, Oxfordshire, 13 November
Family
On 5 February 1784 he married Anne Leveson-Gower, third daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of StaffordGranville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford PC , known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician.-Background:...
, and they had sixteen children. His wife died at Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace is a stately home and historic house at Bishopthorpe south of York in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England...
on 16 November 1832, aged 72.
His second son, the Rev. Levesox Vernon Harcourt, was chancellor of York and the author of The Doctrine of the Deluge,, and of other theological works. His fourth son was William Vernon Harcourt
William Vernon Harcourt (scientist)
William Vernon Harcourt was founder of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.-Family:He was born at Sudbury, Derbyshire, a younger son of Edward Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York and his wife Lady Anne Leveson-Gower, who was a daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of...
, the founder of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
British Association for the Advancement of Science
frame|right|"The BA" logoThe British Association for the Advancement of Science or the British Science Association, formerly known as the BA, is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between...
. His eighth son was Admiral Octavius Henry Cyril Harcourt
Octavius Vernon Harcourt
Octavius Henry Cyril Vernon Harcourt was a British naval officer. He was the eighth son of Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, and was born Octavius Henry Cyril Vernon at Rose Castle, Cumberland on 25 December 1793...
whilst his youngest daughter, Georgiana
Georgiana Harcourt
Georgiana Charlotte Frances Harcourt was the daughter of the Archbishop of York. Her correspondence has been published, but she is primarily known for the novels of Gustav Freytag and the theological works she translated from German originals...
, distinguished herself as a translator.
The children included:
- Louisa Augusta Venables-Vernon-Harcourt (d. 4 Aug 1869)
- George Granville Vernon-HarcourtGeorge HarcourtGeorge Granville Harcourt was a British Whig and then Conservative Party politician.-Political career:...
(6 Aug 1785 - 19 Dec 1861) - Reverend Leveson Venables-Vernon-Harcourt (1788 - 26 Jul 1860)
- Reverend William Vernon HarcourtWilliam Vernon Harcourt (scientist)William Vernon Harcourt was founder of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.-Family:He was born at Sudbury, Derbyshire, a younger son of Edward Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York and his wife Lady Anne Leveson-Gower, who was a daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of...
(Jun 1789 - 1 Apr 1871) - Admiral Frederick Edward Vernon-Harcourt (15 Jun 1790 - 1 May 1883)
- Lt.-Col. Henry Venables-Vernon-Harcourt (1791 - 26 Feb 1853)
- Granville Harcourt-VernonGranville Harcourt-Vernon (1792–1879)-Background:Harcourt-Vernon was the sixth son of the Most Reverend Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, third son of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon. His mother was Lady Anne, daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford...
(26 Jul 1792 - 8 Dec 1879) - Vice-Admiral Octavius Henry Cyril HarcourtOctavius Vernon HarcourtOctavius Henry Cyril Vernon Harcourt was a British naval officer. He was the eighth son of Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, and was born Octavius Henry Cyril Vernon at Rose Castle, Cumberland on 25 December 1793...
(26 Dec 1793 - 14 Aug 1863) - Reverend Charles Vernon-Harcourt (14 Nov 1798 - 10 Dec 1870)
- Colonel Francis Venables-Vernon-HarcourtFrancis Venables-Vernon-HarcourtColonel Francis Venables-Vernon-Harcourt was a British Conservative Party politician.-Background:Venables-Vernon-Harcourt was the ninth son of the Most Reverend Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, who in turn was the third son of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon...
(6 Jan 1801 - 23 Apr 1880) - Egerton Vernon-Harcourt (1803 - 19 Oct 1883)
- Georgiana HarcourtGeorgiana HarcourtGeorgiana Charlotte Frances Harcourt was the daughter of the Archbishop of York. Her correspondence has been published, but she is primarily known for the novels of Gustav Freytag and the theological works she translated from German originals...
(1807 - 1886)
Cato Street conspiracy
As a director of the Ancient Concerts, Harcourt entertained his fellow-directors (the prince regentPrince Regent
A prince regent is a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch, e.g., due to the Sovereign's incapacity or absence ....
and Prince Adolphus – the Duke of Cambridge
Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
The Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge , was the tenth child and seventh son of George III and Queen Charlotte. He held the title of Duke of Cambridge from 1801 until his death. He also served as Viceroy of Hanover on behalf of his brothers George IV and William IV...
, the Duke of Cumberland
Ernest Augustus I of Hanover
Ernest Augustus I was King of Hanover from 20 June 1837 until his death. He was the fifth son and eighth child of George III, who reigned in both the United Kingdom and Hanover...
(later Ernest Augustus I of Hanover), and the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
) at his house in Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square is a large garden square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London, England. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from their surname, "Grosvenor".-History:...
on 23 February 1821. On the same night the Cato Street conspirators
Cato Street Conspiracy
The Cato Street Conspiracy was an attempt to murder all the British cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Lord Liverpool in 1820. The name comes from the meeting place near Edgware Road in London. The Cato Street Conspiracy is notable due to dissenting public opinions regarding the punishment of the...
had designed the murder of the cabinet ministers at the house adjoining Harcourt's, where the ministers had agreed to dine with Lord Harrowby
Dudley Ryder, 1st Earl of Harrowby
Dudley Ryder, 1st Earl of Harrowby, PC, FSA was a prominent British politician of the Pittite faction and the Tory party.-Background and education:...
.
Harcourt's publications
- A Sermon preached before the Lords on the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of King Charles the First, 1794.
- A Sermon preached before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 1798.
- A Sermon preached at the Coronation of George IV, 1821, which was twice reprinted.