Henry Percy, Earl Percy
Encyclopedia
Henry Algernon George Percy, Earl Percy (21 January 1871 - 30 December 1909), styled Lord Warkworth until 1899, was a British
Conservative
politician. He held political office under Arthur Balfour
as Under-Secretary of State for India
and Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
before his early death in 1909.
, and his wife Lady Edith, daughter of George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
. Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland
, and Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
, were his younger brothers.
in a November 1895 by-election, replacing the ennobled Sir Algernon Borthwick
. In 1902 he was appointed Under-Secretary of State for India
in the Conservative administration of Arthur Balfour
, a post he held until 1903, and was then Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
under Balfour from 1903 to 1905.
in December 1909, aged 38. The official cause of death was pleurisy
although there were rumours that he had been mortally wounded in a duel. Further unfounded rumours circulated that he had been murdered on the orders of Winston Churchill
, then a rising politician, and that Percy had been the lover of Clementine Hozier, whom Churchill married in 1908. Churchill's mild-mannered brother Jack was whispered to have been the unlikely perpetrator of this act.
Percy was unmarried and his younger brother Alan later succeeded their father in the dukedom.
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...
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 held political office under Arthur Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
as 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....
and Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
before his early death in 1909.
Background
Percy was the eldest son of Henry Percy, 7th Duke of NorthumberlandHenry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland
Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland KG, PC, FRS , styled Lord Lovaine between 1865 and 1867 and Earl Percy between 1867 and 1899, was a British Conservative politician...
, and his wife Lady Edith, daughter of George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George John Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll KG, KT, PC, FRS, FRSE , styled Marquess of Lorne until 1847, was a Scottish peer, Liberal politician as well as a writer on science, religion, and the politics of the 19th century.-Background:Argyll was born at Ardencaple Castle, Dunbartonshire, the...
. Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland
Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland
Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland KG CBE MVO TD was the son of Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland and Lady Edith Campbell....
, and Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
Eustace Sutherland Campbell Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle PC , styled Lord Eustace Percy between 1899 and 1953, was a British diplomat, Conservative politician and public servant...
, were his younger brothers.
Political career
Percy was returned to Parliament for Kensington SouthKensington South (UK Parliament constituency)
Kensington South was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Kensington district of west London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in a November 1895 by-election, replacing the ennobled Sir Algernon Borthwick
Algernon Borthwick, 1st Baron Glenesk
Algernon Borthwick, 1st Baron Glenesk JP , known as Sir Algernon Borthwick, Bt, between 1887 and 1895, was a British journalist and Conservative politician...
. In 1902 he was appointed 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....
in the Conservative administration of Arthur Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
, a post he held until 1903, and was then Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
under Balfour from 1903 to 1905.
Personal life
Lord Percy died in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in December 1909, aged 38. The official cause of death was pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
although there were rumours that he had been mortally wounded in a duel. Further unfounded rumours circulated that he had been murdered on the orders of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, then a rising politician, and that Percy had been the lover of Clementine Hozier, whom Churchill married in 1908. Churchill's mild-mannered brother Jack was whispered to have been the unlikely perpetrator of this act.
Percy was unmarried and his younger brother Alan later succeeded their father in the dukedom.