Frederick Coleridge Mackarness
Encyclopedia
Frederic Michael Coleridge Mackarness (31 August 1854 – 23 December 1920) born at Tardebigge
, Saint Bartholomew, Worcestershire
, England was a British
barrister
, judge
and Liberal
politician and Member of Parliament
for the Newbury
constituency.
, who was Bishop of Oxford
from 1870-1888
and Alethea Buchanan Coleridge. He was educated at Marlborough College
and Keble College, Oxford
. In 1882 he married Amy Chermside, the daughter of an Anglican vicar
. They do not appear to have had children. Amy Mackarness died in 1916.
in 1879. He practiced as an advocate of the Cape Supreme Court
for some years, was made Revising Barrister for Harrow
, Middlesex
in 1889 and for London in the same year - Revising Barristers are Counsel
of not less than seven years' standing appointed to revise the lists of parliamentary voters . He was appointed Recorder
of Newbury
in 1894 and was Professor
of Roman-Dutch Law
at University College, London from 1905-06. In 1911, he was given a County Court
judgeship in Sussex
.
, another barrister of the Middle Temple, who was Liberal MP for Sheffield Attercliffe from 1885-1894. His father was also a Liberal and his appointment as Bishop of Oxford was on the recommendation of W E Gladstone.
In 1903, Mackarness resigned from his position as Recorder of Newbury to become the prospective Liberal parliamentary candidate. Newbury was a traditionally Conservative
seat. Since its creation in 1885 it had been represented first by William George Mount
and then by his son William Arthur Mount
for the Tories. David Cameron
who became Prime Minister
at the 2010 general election is descended from the Mount family.
At the 1900 general election
William Arthur Mount was returned unopposed.
However. Mackarness was elected as MP for Newbury at the 1906 general election
narrowly beating Mount by 402 votes. He was an active member of the House of Commons. While in Parliament he took up the cause of Chinese Labour in South Africa
and campaigned on behalf of native Indians and their civil rights
. In 1910, in his role as chairman of the executive of the India Civil Rights Committee, he published a pamphlet entitled Methods of the Indian Police in the 20th Century in which he showed, by quoting official reports, that untried prisoners were tortured
to extort evidence. This document was suppressed by the Provincial Governments in India under the Press Act of 1912 and the resulting controversy caused a rift between Mackarness and his sympathetic supporters in the Liberal press and Edwin Montagu
who was the Under-Secretary of State for India
. Apart from his interest in the issue of so-called coolie
labour, Mackarness drew on his experience in South Africa to comment regularly on matters affecting the British colonies
there over the years. In 1902 he published Martial Law in the Cape Colony during 1901 and was a member of the South African Conciliation Committee, a British anti-war
organisation opposed to the suffering caused by the Second Boer War
and dedicated to bringing the war to an end through negotiation. Mackarness was also noted as an 'indefatigable' supporter of Irish Home Rule.
In 1909, Mackarness told his constituency Liberal Association that “for private reasons” he did not intend to fight the next election. The seat reverted to the Conservatives by a wide margin, William Arthur Mount recording a majority of 2,358 over the new Liberal candidate, Thomas Hedderwick the former MP for Wick Burghs
.
on 3 January 1921.
Tardebigge
Tardebigge is a village in Worcestershire, England.The village is most famous for the Tardebigge Locks, a flight of 36 canal locks that raise the Worcester and Birmingham Canal over 220 feet over the Lickey Ridge. It lies in the historic county of Worcestershire.-Toponymy:The etymology of the...
, Saint Bartholomew, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and Liberal
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 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 the Newbury
Newbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Newbury is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returns one Member of Parliament , elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
constituency.
Family and education
Mackarness was the son of the Right Reverend John Fielder MackarnessJohn Fielder Mackarness
John Fielder Mackarness was a Church of England bishop.Mackarness was appointed Vicar of Tardebigge , Rector of Honiton and finally Bishop of Oxford...
, who was Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
from 1870-1888
and Alethea Buchanan Coleridge. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
. In 1882 he married Amy Chermside, the daughter of an Anglican vicar
Vicar (Anglicanism)
Vicar is the title given to certain parish priests in the Church of England. It has played a significant role in Anglican Church organisation in ways that are different from other Christian denominations. The title is very old and arises from the medieval situation where priests were appointed...
. They do not appear to have had children. Amy Mackarness died in 1916.
Career
Mackarness went in for the law and was called to the Bar at the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1879. He practiced as an advocate of the Cape Supreme Court
Supreme Court of South Africa
The Supreme Court of South Africa was a superior court of law in South Africa from 1910 to 1996. It was made up of various provincial and local divisions with jurisdiction over specific geographical areas, and an Appellate Division which was the highest appellate court in the country...
for some years, was made Revising Barrister for Harrow
Harrow
Harrow may refer to:*Harrow , an agricultural implement consisting of many spikes, tines or discs dragged across the soil-Places:* London Borough of Harrow** Harrow, London** Harrow on the Hill** North Harrow** West Harrow** Harrow Weald...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
in 1889 and for London in the same year - Revising Barristers are Counsel
Counsel
A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters.-U.K. and Ireland:The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers...
of not less than seven years' standing appointed to revise the lists of parliamentary voters . He was appointed Recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
of Newbury
Newbury
-In the United Kingdom:* Newbury, Berkshire**Newbury **Newbury Racecourse**Newbury F.C.**A.F.C. Newbury**Newbury R.F.C.**Newbury Building Society**Newbury Weekly News**Newbury College**Newbury railway station...
in 1894 and was Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Roman-Dutch Law
Roman Dutch law
Roman Dutch law is a legal system based on Roman law as applied in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries. As such, it is a variety of the European continental civil law or ius commune...
at University College, London from 1905-06. In 1911, he was given a County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
judgeship in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
Politics
Liberal politics were a part of Mackarness’ family. His sister Mary was married to Bernard ColeridgeBernard Coleridge, 2nd Baron Coleridge
Bernard John Seymour Coleridge, 2nd Baron Coleridge QC was a British lawyer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1894 when he inherited his peerage....
, another barrister of the Middle Temple, who was Liberal MP for Sheffield Attercliffe from 1885-1894. His father was also a Liberal and his appointment as Bishop of Oxford was on the recommendation of W E Gladstone.
In 1903, Mackarness resigned from his position as Recorder of Newbury to become the prospective Liberal parliamentary candidate. Newbury was a traditionally Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
seat. Since its creation in 1885 it had been represented first by William George Mount
William George Mount
Sir William George Mount was a British Conservative politician and first Member of Parliament for the Newbury constituency....
and then by his son William Arthur Mount
Sir William Mount, 1st Baronet
Sir William Arthur Mount, 1st Baronet CBE was a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for the Newbury constituency...
for the Tories. David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
who became Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
at the 2010 general election is descended from the Mount family.
At the 1900 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
William Arthur Mount was returned unopposed.
However. Mackarness was elected as MP for Newbury at the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
narrowly beating Mount by 402 votes. He was an active member of the House of Commons. While in Parliament he took up the cause of Chinese Labour in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and campaigned on behalf of native Indians and their civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. In 1910, in his role as chairman of the executive of the India Civil Rights Committee, he published a pamphlet entitled Methods of the Indian Police in the 20th Century in which he showed, by quoting official reports, that untried prisoners were tortured
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
to extort evidence. This document was suppressed by the Provincial Governments in India under the Press Act of 1912 and the resulting controversy caused a rift between Mackarness and his sympathetic supporters in the Liberal press and Edwin Montagu
Edwin Samuel Montagu
Edwin Samuel Montagu PC was a British Liberal politician. He notably served as Secretary of State for India between 1917 and 1922.-Background and education:...
who was the Under-Secretary of State for India
Under-Secretary of State for India
This is a list of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State and Permanent Under-Secretaries of State at the India Office during the period of British rule between 1866 and 1948, and for Burma from 1858-1948....
. Apart from his interest in the issue of so-called coolie
Coolie
Historically, a coolie was a manual labourer or slave from Asia, particularly China, India, and the Phillipines during the 19th century and early 20th century...
labour, Mackarness drew on his experience in South Africa to comment regularly on matters affecting the British colonies
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
there over the years. In 1902 he published Martial Law in the Cape Colony during 1901 and was a member of the South African Conciliation Committee, a British anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
organisation opposed to the suffering caused by the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and dedicated to bringing the war to an end through negotiation. Mackarness was also noted as an 'indefatigable' supporter of Irish Home Rule.
In 1909, Mackarness told his constituency Liberal Association that “for private reasons” he did not intend to fight the next election. The seat reverted to the Conservatives by a wide margin, William Arthur Mount recording a majority of 2,358 over the new Liberal candidate, Thomas Hedderwick the former MP for Wick Burghs
Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Wick Burghs, sometimes known as Northern Burghs, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918...
.
Death
Mackarness died in London on 23 December 1920 and his funeral took place in EastbourneEastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
on 3 January 1921.