Melville Portal
Encyclopedia
Melville Portal JP
, DL
(31 July 1819 – 24 January 1904) was a British Conservative Party
politician from Hampshire
.
Portal was awarded an M.A. degree by the University of Oxford
in 1844.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament
(MP) for North Hampshire
at a by-election in April 1849, following the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir William Heathcote
. He was re-elected unopposed in 1852
at a sparsely-attended hustings in Winchester
, and retired from the House of Commons at the 1857 general election
.
He was appointed in December 1852 as a Deputy Lieutenant
of Hampshire, and by 1863 he was also a Justice of the Peace
(JP) for the county.
He was nominated as High Sheriff of Hampshire
in 1861 and in 1862, and was appointed to the office in 1863, when his address was given as Laverstoke House, Mitcheldever Station.
. The couple had at least four children, including Sir Gerald Herbert Portal (1858–1894), and Katherine Charlotte Portal (1866–1917). Sir Gerald was a rapidly-promoted young diplomat, whose career in Africa led to him contracting malaria, and he died of typhoid in London on 25 January 1894. An older son died in Africa in 1892 or 1893, and the third son was Alaraic William John Portal, an officer in the Royal Navy
.
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...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(31 July 1819 – 24 January 1904) was a British Conservative Party
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 from Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
Portal was awarded an M.A. degree by the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1844.
He was elected as a 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,...
(MP) for North Hampshire
North Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)
- Notes and references :...
at a by-election in April 1849, following the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir William Heathcote
Sir William Heathcote, 5th Baronet
Sir William Heathcote, 5th Baronet PC , was a British landowner and Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
. He was re-elected unopposed in 1852
United Kingdom general election, 1852
The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...
at a sparsely-attended hustings in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, and retired from the House of Commons at the 1857 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1857
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
.
He was appointed in December 1852 as a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Hampshire, and by 1863 he was also 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...
(JP) for the county.
He was nominated as High Sheriff of Hampshire
High Sheriff of Hampshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Hampshire, the title was often given as High Sheriff of the County of Southampton until 1959.-List of High Sheriffs:*1070–1096: Hugh de Port *1105: Henry de Port *1129: William de Pont de l'Arche...
in 1861 and in 1862, and was appointed to the office in 1863, when his address was given as Laverstoke House, Mitcheldever Station.
Personal life
In 1855 Portal married Lady Charlotte Elliot (died 1899), the first child of the 2nd Earl of MintoGilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto GCB, PC , styled as Viscount Melgund between 1813 and 1814, was a British diplomat and Whig politician.-Background and education:...
. The couple had at least four children, including Sir Gerald Herbert Portal (1858–1894), and Katherine Charlotte Portal (1866–1917). Sir Gerald was a rapidly-promoted young diplomat, whose career in Africa led to him contracting malaria, and he died of typhoid in London on 25 January 1894. An older son died in Africa in 1892 or 1893, and the third son was Alaraic William John Portal, an officer in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.