Harry McCalmont
Encyclopedia
Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont (1861 – 8 December 1902) was a British
army
officer, race-horse owner, yachtsman and Conservative party
politician.
He was the son of Hugh Barklie Blundell McCalmont, and was educated at Eton College
before gaining a commission in the 6th Regiment of Foot in 1881. He subsequently transferred to the Scots Guards
four years later.
In 1888 his millionaire
great uncle, Hugh McCalmont died. Under the conditions of his will, a trust fund was established paying Harry McCalmont 2,000 pounds a year for seven years, after which he would inherit the remainder of the estate. He used this income to purchase the Cheveley Park estate and stud farm
near Newmarket from the Duke of Rutland
. There he established a successful stable of racehorses. Among his horses were Timothy, a winner of the Ascot Gold Cup
and Alexandra Plate
and Isinglass
winner of the Epsom Derby
, St. Leger Stakes
and Epsom Gold Cup. He retired from the regular army in 1889, becoming colonel of the 6th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was also a keen yachtsman and member of the Royal Yacht Squadron
.
In 1895
a general election was called, and McCalmont was selected as Conservative candidate for the Newmarket constituency
, then held by the Liberals
. He was successful, unseating the sitting member of parliament
, Sir George Newnes
.
The Second Boer War
broke out in 1899, and in the following year McCalmont's battalion went to South Africa
, serving in the Cape Colony
and Orange River Colony
. He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath
for his services in the war. A general election
was held in 1900, and McCalmont, who was still in South Africa, was re-elected with an increased majority. His opponent in the election was C D Rose
, owner of the racehorse Ravensbury which had been a rival to Isinglass.
Harry McCalmont married twice, but had no children. He died suddenly at his London home from heart failure in December 1902.
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...
army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, race-horse owner, yachtsman and Conservative party
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.
He was the son of Hugh Barklie Blundell McCalmont, and was educated at Eton College
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"....
before gaining a commission in the 6th Regiment of Foot in 1881. He subsequently transferred to the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
four years later.
In 1888 his millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
great uncle, Hugh McCalmont died. Under the conditions of his will, a trust fund was established paying Harry McCalmont 2,000 pounds a year for seven years, after which he would inherit the remainder of the estate. He used this income to purchase the Cheveley Park estate and stud farm
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
near Newmarket from the Duke of Rutland
John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland
|-...
. There he established a successful stable of racehorses. Among his horses were Timothy, a winner of the Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
and Alexandra Plate
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 159 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
and Isinglass
Isinglass (horse)
Isinglass was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who dominated during his time in racing and won the English Triple Crown.-Racing record:...
winner of the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
and Epsom Gold Cup. He retired from the regular army in 1889, becoming colonel of the 6th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was also a keen yachtsman and member of the Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
.
In 1895
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...
a general election was called, and McCalmont was selected as Conservative candidate for the Newmarket constituency
Newmarket (UK Parliament constituency)
Newmarket is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was created upon the splitting up of the three member Cambridgeshire constituency into three single member divisions in 1885. The seat was abolished in 1918.-Boundaries:...
, then held by the Liberals
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...
. He was successful, unseating the sitting 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,...
, Sir George Newnes
George Newnes
Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet was a publisher and editor in England.-Background and education:...
.
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...
broke out in 1899, and in the following year McCalmont's battalion went to 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...
, serving in the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and Orange River Colony
Orange River Colony
The Orange River Colony was the British colony created after this nation first occupied and then annexed the independent Orange Free State in the Second Boer War...
. He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
for his services in the war. A 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**...
was held in 1900, and McCalmont, who was still in South Africa, was re-elected with an increased majority. His opponent in the election was C D Rose
Charles Day Rose
Sir Charles Day Rose, 1st Baronet was a British-Canadian businessman, race horse breeder, yachtsman and Liberal politician.Born in Montreal, he was the second son of Sir John Rose, 1st Baronet...
, owner of the racehorse Ravensbury which had been a rival to Isinglass.
Harry McCalmont married twice, but had no children. He died suddenly at his London home from heart failure in December 1902.