Henry Wyndham West
Encyclopedia
Henry Wyndham West was an English barrister and Liberal
politician.
West was the son of Martin John West and his wife Lady Maria Walpole daughter of the 2nd Earl of Orford
. His father was Recorder
of Lynn, and Commissioner of Bankrupts for the Leeds District. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church College, Oxford. He was called to the bar at Inner Temple
in 1848 and served on the Northern Circuit
, becoming Recorder of Scarborough in 1858 and then Recorder of Manchester
. He was appointed Attorney General
of the Duchy of Lancaster
in 1861 and Queen's Counsel
in 1868.
West stood unsuccessfully as Member of Parliament
for Ipswich
in 1865, but was elected for the seat in 1868. He lost the seat in 1874, but was re-elected in 1883. He was unnseated in 1886 after the election was declared void on account of corrupt practices by the party's agents.
West's nickname in early life was "Zephyr,". He married Violet Campbell, a sister of Lady Granville in the winter of 1870 and the nuptials were celebrated by an epigram written by George Webbe Dasent
.
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...
politician.
West was the son of Martin John West and his wife Lady Maria Walpole daughter of the 2nd Earl of Orford
Baron Walpole
Baron Walpole, of Walpole in the County of Norfolk, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. The holders of the peerage also held the titles of Baron Walpole, of Houghton in the County of Norfolk, Viscount Walpole and Earl of Orford from 1745 to 1797, the title of Earl of Orford from 1806 to...
. His father was Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Lynn, and Commissioner of Bankrupts for the Leeds District. 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 Christ Church College, Oxford. He 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 1848 and served on the Northern Circuit
Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit dates from 1176 when Henry II sent his judges on circuit to do justice in his name. The Circuit encompassed the whole of the North of England but in 1876 it was divided. That part to the west of the Pennines retained the old name. The land to the east became the territory of...
, becoming Recorder of Scarborough in 1858 and then Recorder of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He was appointed Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
in 1861 and Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1868.
West stood unsuccessfully as 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,...
for Ipswich
Ipswich (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 1865, but was elected for the seat in 1868. He lost the seat in 1874, but was re-elected in 1883. He was unnseated in 1886 after the election was declared void on account of corrupt practices by the party's agents.
West's nickname in early life was "Zephyr,". He married Violet Campbell, a sister of Lady Granville in the winter of 1870 and the nuptials were celebrated by an epigram written by George Webbe Dasent
George Webbe Dasent
Sir George Webbe Dasent was a translator of folk tales and contributor to The Times.Dasent was born 22 May 1817 at St. Vincent, West Indies, the son of the attorney general, John Roche Dasent...
.
- "Quaerebat Zephyrus brumali tempore florem:
- En! Campis Bellis incidit in Violam."
- "Zephyr was looking for a flower in the deepest winter. Lo! On the battlefield, he fell upon Violet".