Moreton Frewen
Encyclopedia
Moreton Frewen was an Anglo-Irish
writer on monetary reform
who served briefly as a Member of Parliament
(MP).
, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where gained his BA in 1877. He emigrated to Wyoming
during the cattle boom in the 1870s and 1880s. A charming if financially incompetent adventurer from an English landed gentry family known for reckless financial and political schemes, he managed to marry Clarita "Clara" Jerome (1851–1935) in 1881, daughter of the New York
financier Leonard Jerome
, and sister to Lord Randolph Churchill
's wife Jennie. They settled together on a huge Wyoming ranch, where Frewen ran up ever increasing debt, earning the sobriquets 'Mortal Ruin' and 'the splendid pauper'.
Returning to the United Kingdom – where he owned homes in London
and Cork
– Frewen served as Vice President of the Imperial Federation League
. He wrote on tariff reform and other economic matters, and was an advocate of bimetallism
.
He became involved in Irish affairs through inheriting the Innishannon Estate, some 3000 acres near Cork and through friendship with by Lord Dunraven and Timothy Healy
(MP).
He was elected unopposed at the December 1910 general election as an All-for-Ireland League
MP for North East Cork, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. He resigned
on 5 July 1911 because his seat was needed for Healy and because of his reactionary public statements: his opposition to the Parliament Bill
to remove the legislative veto of the House of Lords was proving a political liability. Later he signed the British Covenant
in support of Ulster, while continuing to engage in political intrigues. He was a brother-in-law of Lord Randolph Churchill
and Sir John Leslie of Glaslough
. His niece (with whom he was not on good terms) was the second wife of Sir Edward Carson.
He left two sons, Hugh Moreton Frewen, and Captain Oswald Moreton Frewen, Royal Navy
(Retired). A daughter was the sculptress and writer Clare Frewen Sheridan
. Another daughter, Jasmine, died at birth.
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
writer on monetary reform
Monetary reform
Monetary reform describes any movement or theory that proposes a different system of supplying money and financing the economy from the current system.Monetary reformers may advocate any of the following, among other proposals:...
who served briefly 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).
Life
He was the fifth son of Thomas Frewen, MP for South LeicestershireSouth Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
Leicestershire South is a county 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 voting system....
, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where gained his BA in 1877. He emigrated to Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
during the cattle boom in the 1870s and 1880s. A charming if financially incompetent adventurer from an English landed gentry family known for reckless financial and political schemes, he managed to marry Clarita "Clara" Jerome (1851–1935) in 1881, daughter of the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
financier Leonard Jerome
Leonard Jerome
Leonard Walter Jerome was a Brooklyn, New York, financier and grandfather of Winston Churchill.- Early life :...
, and sister to Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
's wife Jennie. They settled together on a huge Wyoming ranch, where Frewen ran up ever increasing debt, earning the sobriquets 'Mortal Ruin' and 'the splendid pauper'.
Returning to the United Kingdom – where he owned homes in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
– Frewen served as Vice President of the Imperial Federation League
Imperial Federation League
The Imperial Federation League was a 19th century organisation which aimed to promote Imperial Federation.-Formation:It was founded in London in 1884. Branches were established in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados and British Guiana. It aimed to promote Imperial Federation. Canada...
. He wrote on tariff reform and other economic matters, and was an advocate of bimetallism
Bimetallism
In economics, bimetallism is a monetary standard in which the value of the monetary unit is defined as equivalent both to a certain quantity of gold and to a certain quantity of silver; such a system establishes a fixed rate of exchange between the two metals...
.
He became involved in Irish affairs through inheriting the Innishannon Estate, some 3000 acres near Cork and through friendship with by Lord Dunraven and Timothy Healy
Timothy Michael Healy
Timothy Michael Healy, KC , also known as Tim Healy, was an Irish nationalist politician, journalist, author, barrister and one of the most controversial Irish Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
(MP).
He was elected unopposed at the December 1910 general election as an All-for-Ireland League
All-for-Ireland League
The All-for-Ireland League , was an Irish, Munster-based political party . Founded by William O'Brien MP, it generated a new national movement to achieve agreement between the different parties concerned on the historically difficult aim of Home Rule for the whole of Ireland...
MP for North East Cork, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. He resigned
Resignation from the British House of Commons
Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. To circumvent this prohibition, a legal fiction is used...
on 5 July 1911 because his seat was needed for Healy and because of his reactionary public statements: his opposition to the Parliament Bill
Parliament Act 1911
The Parliament Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is constitutionally important and partly governs the relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords which make up the Houses of Parliament. This Act must be construed as one with the Parliament Act 1949...
to remove the legislative veto of the House of Lords was proving a political liability. Later he signed the British Covenant
British Covenant
The British Covenant was a protest organised in 1914 against the Third Home Rule Bill for Ireland. It largely mirrored the Ulster Covenant of 1912....
in support of Ulster, while continuing to engage in political intrigues. He was a brother-in-law of Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
and Sir John Leslie of Glaslough
Sir John Leslie, 2nd Baronet
Sir John Leslie, 2nd Baronet was an Anglo-Irish baronet.-Family:Leslie was the only son of Sir John Leslie, 1st Baronet, and Lady Constance Wilhelmina Frances Dawson-Damer...
. His niece (with whom he was not on good terms) was the second wife of Sir Edward Carson.
He left two sons, Hugh Moreton Frewen, and Captain Oswald Moreton Frewen, 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...
(Retired). A daughter was the sculptress and writer Clare Frewen Sheridan
Clare Frewen Sheridan
Clare Sheridan , was an English sculptress and writer who is known primarily for creating busts for famous sitters, and writing diaries recounting her worldly travels...
. Another daughter, Jasmine, died at birth.