Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
Encyclopedia
Henry John Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood (26 September 1826-15 January 1902), known as Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Bt, from 1869 to 1892, was a British
Conservative
politician. He served under Benjamin Disraeli as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
between 1874 and 1878 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
between 1878 and 1880.
.
in 1857 and 1859 but in 1865 he was successfully returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Essex South
. He later represented Essex West
from 1868 to 1885 and Epping
from 1885 to 1892. In 1867 he resumed by Royal license the original family surname of Ibbetson in addition to that of Selwin and the following year he succeeded his father in the baronetcy.
When the Conservatives came to power in 1874 under Benjamin Disraeli Rookwood refused the office of Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means
(Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
). Disraeli instead appointed him Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
, a position he held until 1878, and was then Financial Secretary to the Treasury
from 1878 to 1880. In 1879 he declined to become Governor of New South Wales. He was later Second Church Estate Commissioner between 1885 to 1886 and 1886 to 1892. On his retirement from the House of Commons in 1892 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Rookwood, of Rookwood Hall and Down Hall, both in the County of Essex.
John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst
, in 1850. After her death in 1865 he married secondly Eden, daughter of George Thackrah and widow of his first cousin Sir Charles Henry Ibbetson, 5th Baronet, in 1867. After her death in 1899 he married thirdly Sophia Harriet, daughter of Digby Lawrell, in 1900. There were no children from the three marriages. Lord Rookwood died in January 1902, aged 75, when the baronetcy and barony both became extinct.
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 served under Benjamin Disraeli as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
-Non-permanent and parliamentary under-secretaries, 1782-present:*April 1782: Evan Nepean*April 1782: Thomas Orde*July 1782: Henry Strachey*April 1783: George North*February 1784: Hon. John Townshend*June 1789: Scrope Bernard*July 1794: The Hon...
between 1874 and 1878 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
between 1878 and 1880.
Background and education
Born Henry John Selwin, Rookwood was the only son of Sir John Thomas Selwin, 6th Baronet, and his wife Isabella, daughter of General John Leveson-Gower, and was educated at home and at St John's College, CambridgeSt John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
.
Political career
Selwin-Ibbetson unsuccessfully contested IpswichIpswich (UK Parliament constituency)
Ipswich is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in 1857 and 1859 but in 1865 he was successfully returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Essex South
Essex South (UK Parliament constituency)
South Essex was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1885. It elected two Members of Parliament using the bloc vote system....
. He later represented Essex West
Essex West (UK Parliament constituency)
West Essex, formally known as the Western Division of Essex was a parliamentary constituency in the English county of Essex. From 1868 to 1885, it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, using the bloc vote system of election.-Area...
from 1868 to 1885 and Epping
Epping (UK Parliament constituency)
Epping was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1974. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
from 1885 to 1892. In 1867 he resumed by Royal license the original family surname of Ibbetson in addition to that of Selwin and the following year he succeeded his father in the baronetcy.
When the Conservatives came to power in 1874 under Benjamin Disraeli Rookwood refused the office of Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means
Committee of Ways and Means
The Committee of Ways and Means is a government body that is charged with reviewing and making recommendations for government budgets. The term "Ways and Means" originated with the English Parliament and refers to the provision of revenue to meet national expenditure requirements and to forward...
(Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
). Disraeli instead appointed him Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
-Non-permanent and parliamentary under-secretaries, 1782-present:*April 1782: Evan Nepean*April 1782: Thomas Orde*July 1782: Henry Strachey*April 1783: George North*February 1784: Hon. John Townshend*June 1789: Scrope Bernard*July 1794: The Hon...
, a position he held until 1878, and was then Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
from 1878 to 1880. In 1879 he declined to become Governor of New South Wales. He was later Second Church Estate Commissioner between 1885 to 1886 and 1886 to 1892. On his retirement from the House of Commons in 1892 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Rookwood, of Rookwood Hall and Down Hall, both in the County of Essex.
Family
Lord Rookwood married firstly the Hon. Sarah Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Lord ChancellorLord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst
John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst
John Singleton Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst PC KS FRS , was a British lawyer and politician. He was three times Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Background and education:...
, in 1850. After her death in 1865 he married secondly Eden, daughter of George Thackrah and widow of his first cousin Sir Charles Henry Ibbetson, 5th Baronet, in 1867. After her death in 1899 he married thirdly Sophia Harriet, daughter of Digby Lawrell, in 1900. There were no children from the three marriages. Lord Rookwood died in January 1902, aged 75, when the baronetcy and barony both became extinct.