Henry FitzHerbert Wright
Encyclopedia
Henry FitzHerbert Wright (9 October 1870 – 23 February 1947) was an English cricket
er, lawyer and Conservative
politician. He was active in local government in Derbyshire
and sat in the House of Commons from 1912 to 1918.
Wright was the eldest son of FitzHerbert Wright of the Hayes, Alfreton
, Derbyshire and his wife Louise Charlotte Rudolphine von Beckmann daughter of E C Frederick von Beckmann. He was educated at Eton
where he was a proficient cricketer and at Trinity College, Cambridge
. In the 1891 season
he played two games for Derbyshire
, making his debut against MCC
. He played one game for Derbyshire against Essex in the 1892 season
and spent the following winter touring in Ceylon and India with Lord Hawke's XI.
Wright suspended his first class cricket career and was called to the bar at Inner Temple
in 1895. He was on the Midland Circuit and was an alderman of the Derbyshire County Council. He returned to first class cricket in the 1904 season
when he played two games for Derbyshire. In the 1905 season
managed he seven games and ended his cricket career. Wright was a right hand batsman who played 22 matches in 13 first class games with an average of 19.38 and a top score of 55. He was a right-arm medium pace bowler.
Wright became captain in the 1st Derbyshire Howitzer battery of the Royal Field Artillery
in 1908 He served in Derbyshire
as a Justice of the Peace
and vice chair of the County Council
.
Wright was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Leominster
constituency at an unopposed by-election in 1912
, following the retirement of the incumbent. He also saw service with the Royal Artillery
during World War I from 1914 to 1917. He held his parliamentary seat until the general election of 1918
.
Wright was High Sheriff of Derbyshire
in 1927, and chairman of the River Trent
Catchment Board from 1931 to 1937. He was also a governor of Repton School
.
Wright died at his home near Ashbourne
, Derbyshire at the age of 76.
Wright married Muriel Harriet Fletcher. He is the maternal great-grandfather of Sarah, Duchess of York
, through her mother Susan Barrantes
.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, lawyer 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. He was active in local government in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and sat in the House of Commons from 1912 to 1918.
Wright was the eldest son of FitzHerbert Wright of the Hayes, Alfreton
Alfreton
Alfreton is a town and civil parish in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England, adjoining the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire districts. It was formerly a Norman Manor and later an Urban District. The population of the Alfreton Ward was 7,928 at the 2001 Census...
, Derbyshire and his wife Louise Charlotte Rudolphine von Beckmann daughter of E C Frederick von Beckmann. 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"....
where he was a proficient cricketer and at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. In the 1891 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1891
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1891 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty years. Derbyshire's matches were not considered to be first class in this season. The club had lost first class status after 1887 and did not regain it until 1894, the year...
he played two games for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, making his debut against MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. He played one game for Derbyshire against Essex in the 1892 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1892
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1892 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty one years. Derbyshire's matches were not considered to be first class in this season. The club had lost first class status after 1887 and did not regain it until 1894, the...
and spent the following winter touring in Ceylon and India with Lord Hawke's XI.
Wright suspended his first class cricket career and was called to the bar at Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1895. He was on the Midland Circuit and was an alderman of the Derbyshire County Council. He returned to first class cricket in the 1904 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1904
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1904 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for thirty three years. It was their tenth season in the County Championship and they won five matches to finish tenth in the Championship table....
when he played two games for Derbyshire. In the 1905 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1905
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1905 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for thirty-four years. It was their eleventh season in the County Championship and they won three matches to finish fourteenth in the Championship table.-1905 season:Derbyshire played...
managed he seven games and ended his cricket career. Wright was a right hand batsman who played 22 matches in 13 first class games with an average of 19.38 and a top score of 55. He was a right-arm medium pace bowler.
Wright became captain in the 1st Derbyshire Howitzer battery of the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
in 1908 He served in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and vice chair of the County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
.
Wright was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Leominster
Leominster (UK Parliament constituency)
Leominster was, until 2010, a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.From 1295 to 1868, it was a parliamentary borough which elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election. Under the Reform Act 1867 its...
constituency at an unopposed by-election in 1912
Leominster by-election, 1912
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Leominster on 18 March 1912. The seat had become vacant on the resignation of the Conservative Member of Parliament Sir James Rankin, 1st Baronet, who had held the seat since the 1910 general election, with a majority of 831,...
, following the retirement of the incumbent. He also saw service with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
during World War I from 1914 to 1917. He held his parliamentary seat until the general election of 1918
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
.
Wright was High Sheriff of Derbyshire
High Sheriff of Derbyshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Derbyshire from 1568.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
in 1927, and chairman of the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
Catchment Board from 1931 to 1937. He was also a governor of Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
.
Wright died at his home near Ashbourne
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
, Derbyshire at the age of 76.
Wright married Muriel Harriet Fletcher. He is the maternal great-grandfather of Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
, through her mother Susan Barrantes
Susan Barrantes
Susan Barrantes was an English aristocrat related to the House of Stuart and the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York, and the maternal grandmother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York.She was born Susan Mary Wright in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of FitzHerbert...
.