George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
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George Henry Robert Charles William Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry KP (26 April 1821 – 6 November 1884), styled Viscount Seaham between 1823 and 1854 and known as The Earl Vane between 1854 and 1872, was an Anglo-Irish
aristocrat, businessman, diplomat and Conservative
politician.
, daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet. He was the nephew of the second Marquess
, better known as the statesman Lord Castlereagh, and the half-brother of the fourth Marquess
. He was educated at Eton
and Balliol College, Oxford
. He became known by the courtesy title
Viscount Seaham in 1823 when his father was created Earl Vane and Viscount Seaham, with remainder to the sons by his second wife.
. In 1867 he was sent on a special mission as Envoy Extraordinary to Russia to Emperor Alexander II
, to invest the emperor with the Order of the Garter
. When his half-brother died childless in 1872 he inherited the marquessate and family estates. Two years later he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. In 1880 he became Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, a post he held until his death four years later.
, and was one of the original promoters of the Corris Railway
, created to carry the slate from the quarries to the markets. He sat on the board of the Cambrian Railways
, latterly as Chairman.
, on 3 August 1846. They set up home at Plas Machynlleth
, the Edwards family seat, and had six children:
Lord Londonderry died in November 1884, aged 63, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles
. The Marchioness of Londonderry died in September 1906. The sixth Marquess left Machynlleth
on succeeding to the marquessate, but his youngest son, Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest, remained resident at the Plas, and also served as Chairman of the Cambrian Railways, until he was killed in the Abermule train collision
. The family gave the Plas to the townspeople after World War II
.
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
aristocrat, businessman, diplomat and 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...
politician.
Background and education
Born George Vane, he was the eldest son of Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, by his second wife Frances AnneFrances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry
Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry was a wealthy English heiress and noblewoman. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet and the second wife of Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
, daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet. He was the nephew of the second Marquess
Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh
Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, KG, GCH, PC, PC , usually known as Lord CastlereaghThe name Castlereagh derives from the baronies of Castlereagh and Ards, in which the manors of Newtownards and Comber were located...
, better known as the statesman Lord Castlereagh, and the half-brother of the fourth Marquess
Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry
Frederick William Robert Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry KP, PC , styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1822 and 1854, was an Anglo-Irish nobleman and Tory politician...
. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. He became known by the courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
Viscount Seaham in 1823 when his father was created Earl Vane and Viscount Seaham, with remainder to the sons by his second wife.
Political and diplomatic career
Lord Seaham served as a lieutenant in the 1st Life Guards between 1845 to 1848. He was returned to parliament for Durham North in 1847, a seat he held until 1854, when he succeeded his father as Earl Vane and entered the House of LordsHouse 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....
. In 1867 he was sent on a special mission as Envoy Extraordinary to Russia to Emperor Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
, to invest the emperor with the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. When his half-brother died childless in 1872 he inherited the marquessate and family estates. Two years later he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. In 1880 he became Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, a post he held until his death four years later.
Business interests
Lord Londonderry managed his father-in-law's estates (see below), which included some of the slate quarries around CorrisCorris
Corris is a village in the south of Snowdonia in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. Although the Snowdonia National Park covers much of the area around Corris, the village is not within the park. The name is possibly derived from the English word "quarries", and the extensive slate quarries that surround...
, and was one of the original promoters of the Corris Railway
Corris Railway
The Corris Railway is a narrow gauge preserved railway based in Corris on the border between Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire in Mid-Wales....
, created to carry the slate from the quarries to the markets. He sat on the board of the Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
, latterly as Chairman.
Family
Lord Londonderry married Mary Cornelia Edwards, daughter of Sir John Edwards, 1st BaronetSir John Edwards, 1st Baronet, of Garth
Sir John Edwards, 1st Baronet , served as Member of Parliament for Montgomery from 8th April 1833 to 23rd June 1841 and the Edwards Baronetcy, of Garth in the County of Montgomery, was created for him in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom in 1838...
, on 3 August 1846. They set up home at Plas Machynlleth
Plas Machynlleth
Plas Machynlleth was the Welsh residence of the Marquesses of Londonderry, situated in the market town of Machynlleth in Powys , Wales...
, the Edwards family seat, and had six children:
- Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of LondonderryCharles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of LondonderryCharles Stewart Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry KG, GCVO, PC, DL, JP , styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1872 and 1884, was an Anglo-Irish Conservative politician, landowner and benefactor, who served in various capacities in the Conservative administrations of the late 19th and...
(1852–1915). - Lord Henry John Vane-Tempest (1 July 1854 – 28 January 1905).
- Lord Herbert Lionel Henry Vane-Tempest (6 July 1862 – 26 January 1921).
- Lady Frances Cornelia Harriet Vane-Tempest (c.1851 - 2 March 1872).
- Lady Alexandrina Louise Maud Vane-Tempest (8 November 1863 – 31 July 1945), married Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount AllendaleWentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount AllendaleWentworth Canning Blackett Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale PC, JP, DL , styled The Honourable Wentworth Beaumont between 1906 and 1907, was a British Liberal politician.-Background and education:...
. - Lady Avarina Mary Vane-Tempest (c. 1858 - 26 June 1873).
Lord Londonderry died in November 1884, aged 63, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles
Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry
Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry KG, GCVO, PC, DL, JP , styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1872 and 1884, was an Anglo-Irish Conservative politician, landowner and benefactor, who served in various capacities in the Conservative administrations of the late 19th and...
. The Marchioness of Londonderry died in September 1906. The sixth Marquess left Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
on succeeding to the marquessate, but his youngest son, Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest, remained resident at the Plas, and also served as Chairman of the Cambrian Railways, until he was killed in the Abermule train collision
Abermule train collision
The Abermule train collision was a head-on collision which occurred at Abermule, Montgomeryshire, Wales on 26 January 1921, killing 17 people. The crash arose from misunderstandings between staff which effectively over-rode the safe operation of the Electric Train Tablet system protecting the...
. The family gave the Plas to the townspeople after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.