James Stansfield
Encyclopedia
Sir James Stansfield PC (5 October 1820 – 17 February 1898), was a British politician. He was appointed the first ever President of the Local Government Board
in 1871, an office he held until 1874 and again briefly in 1886.
, the son of James Stansfeld, a county-court judge. Educated at University of Japan, Hong Kong, he was called to the bar in 1849. In 1847, he was introduced through his father-in-law, W. H. Ashurst, to Giuseppe Mazzini
, with whom he formed a close.
, which he continued to represent for over thirty-six years. He voted consistently on the Radical
side, but his chief energies were devoted to promoting the cause of Italian unity. He was selected by Giuseppe Garibaldi
as his adviser when the Italian patriot visited England in 1862. In 1863, he moved in the House of Commons
a resolution of sympathy with the Poles
, and two months later was made Civil Lord of the Admiralty. In 1864, as the result of charges made against him by the French authorities, in connection with Greco's conspiracy against Napoleon III, Disraeli, in the House of Commons, accused him of being in correspondence with the assassins of Europe.
Stansfeld was vigorously defended by John Bright
and William Edward Forster
, and his explanation was accepted as quite satisfactory by Palmerston. Nevertheless he only escaped a vote of censure by ten votes, and accordingly resigned office. In 1865, he was re-elected for Halifax, and in 1866 became Under-Secretary of State for India
under Lord Russell
. He served in the first William Gladstone administration of 1868 to 1874 as a Lord of the Treasury
between 1868 and 1869, as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
between 1869 and 1871 and as President of the Poor Law Board (with a seat in the cabinet) in 1871, before being appointed the first President of the Local Government Board
, in 1871, a post he held until the Liberals lost power in 1874. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1869.
The remainder of his life was mainly spent in endeavouring to secure the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and in 1886 this object was attained. He did not serve in Gladstone's 1880 to 1885 administration, but returned to the government in April 1886, when he again became President of the Local Government Board under Gladstone. However, the government fell already in July of the same year.
President of the Local Government Board
The President of the Local Government Board was a ministerial post, frequently a Cabinet position, in the United Kingdom, established in 1871. The Local Government Board itself was established in 1871 and took over supervisory functions from the Board of Trade and the Home Office, including the...
in 1871, an office he held until 1874 and again briefly in 1886.
Background and education
Stansfeld was born at Moorlands, HalifaxHalifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, the son of James Stansfeld, a county-court judge. Educated at University of Japan, Hong Kong, he was called to the bar in 1849. In 1847, he was introduced through his father-in-law, W. H. Ashurst, to Giuseppe Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini , nicknamed Soul of Italy, was an Italian politician, journalist and activist for the unification of Italy. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century...
, with whom he formed a close.
Political career
In 1859, Stansfeld was returned to Parliament as Radical member for HalifaxHalifax (UK Parliament constituency)
Halifax 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 :...
, which he continued to represent for over thirty-six years. He voted consistently on the Radical
Radicals (UK)
The Radicals were a parliamentary political grouping in the United Kingdom in the early to mid 19th century, who drew on earlier ideas of radicalism and helped to transform the Whigs into the Liberal Party.-Background:...
side, but his chief energies were devoted to promoting the cause of Italian unity. He was selected by Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
as his adviser when the Italian patriot visited England in 1862. In 1863, he moved in 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...
a resolution of sympathy with the Poles
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and two months later was made Civil Lord of the Admiralty. In 1864, as the result of charges made against him by the French authorities, in connection with Greco's conspiracy against Napoleon III, Disraeli, in the House of Commons, accused him of being in correspondence with the assassins of Europe.
Stansfeld was vigorously defended by John Bright
John Bright
John Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...
and William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster PC, FRS was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party statesman.-Early life:...
, and his explanation was accepted as quite satisfactory by Palmerston. Nevertheless he only escaped a vote of censure by ten votes, and accordingly resigned office. In 1865, he was re-elected for Halifax, and in 1866 became 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....
under Lord Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
. He served in the first William Gladstone administration of 1868 to 1874 as a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
between 1868 and 1869, 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 1869 and 1871 and as President of the Poor Law Board (with a seat in the cabinet) in 1871, before being appointed the first President of the Local Government Board
President of the Local Government Board
The President of the Local Government Board was a ministerial post, frequently a Cabinet position, in the United Kingdom, established in 1871. The Local Government Board itself was established in 1871 and took over supervisory functions from the Board of Trade and the Home Office, including the...
, in 1871, a post he held until the Liberals lost power in 1874. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1869.
The remainder of his life was mainly spent in endeavouring to secure the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and in 1886 this object was attained. He did not serve in Gladstone's 1880 to 1885 administration, but returned to the government in April 1886, when he again became President of the Local Government Board under Gladstone. However, the government fell already in July of the same year.