Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara
Encyclopedia
Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara GCIE
, PC (11 June 1827 – 3 September 1902) was a British
Conservative
politician and colonial administrator. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
between 1874 and 1880 and 1885 and 1886 and was Governor of Madras
between 1886 and 1890.
, the third son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo, and Anne Charlotte, daughter of the Honourable John Jocelyn. Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo
. He was educated at Hall Place School
, Bexley
, Kent
, and Trinity College, Dublin
, and was called to the Bar
, Inner Temple
, in 1852.
for King's Lynn
in 1868. In 1874 he became Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
in Benjamin Disraeli's second administration, a post he held until 1880, when he was also sworn of the Privy Council. He held the same post from 1885 to 1886 in Lord Salisbury's
first administration.
In 1886, Bourke was appointed Governor of Madras. The following year appointed a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
and raised to the peerage as Baron Connemara, of Connemara
in the County
of Galway
. In 1890 he laid the foundations stone of the Connemara Public Library
in Madras, which was named after him and opened six years later. The building was originally planned to house the proposed Victoria Technical Institute
which was constructed in 1887, the Golden Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign. The third session of the Indian National Congress
was held at Madras in 1887 when Connemara was the Governor. He hosted a garden party at the Government House for the delegates. The construction of the Madras High Court
was commenced in 1889.
Lord Connemara is credited with introducing a number of reforms while serving as Governor. He personally supervised the famine-relief measures at Ganjam
and reorganized the sanitary administration of Madras city. He also improved and extended the east coast railway line connecting Madras with Calcutta. The Madras Mail, in its December 4, 1890 issue, comments that his administration was "a bright epoch in the annals of Madras". He resigned as Governor on 8 November 1890 and returned to England.
, mostly on matters dealing with foreign affairs, making his last speech in June 1898. He also published the work Parliamentary Precedents.
, in 1863. They divorced in 1890. In 1894 he married Gertrude, former wife of Edward Coleman, in 1894. Both marriages were childless. His second wife died in November 1898. Lord Connemara died in London
in September 1902, aged 75, and was buried in the city's Kensal Green Cemetery
. His barony became extinct at his death.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, PC (11 June 1827 – 3 September 1902) was a British
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 and colonial administrator. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
between 1874 and 1880 and 1885 and 1886 and was Governor of Madras
Governors of Madras
-English Agents:In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized between the factors of the Masulipatnam factory, represented by Francis Day, and the Raja of Chandragiri. In 1640, Andrew Cogan, the chief of the Masulipatnam factory, made his way to Madras in the company of Francis Day and...
between 1886 and 1890.
Background and education
Bourke was born at Hayes, County MeathCounty Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, the third son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo, and Anne Charlotte, daughter of the Honourable John Jocelyn. Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo
Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo
Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo KP, GMSI, PC , styled Lord Naas between 1842 and 1867, was a statesman and prominent member of the British Conservative Party from Dublin, Ireland....
. He was educated at Hall Place School
Hall Place
Hall Place is a former stately home, today a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, beside the River Cray on the outskirts of Crayford, west of Bexleyheath and north-east of Old Bexley...
, Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, and was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
, 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 1852.
Political career
Bourke practised as a barrister for a number of years before being elected Conservative Member of ParliamentMember 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 King's Lynn
King's Lynn (UK Parliament constituency)
King's Lynn was a constituency in Norfolk, known as Lynn or Bishop's Lynn prior to 1537, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, and one member thereafter. Until 1918 it was a parliamentary borough, after which the name...
in 1868. In 1874 he became Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
in Benjamin Disraeli's second administration, a post he held until 1880, when he was also sworn of the Privy Council. He held the same post from 1885 to 1886 in Lord Salisbury's
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
first administration.
Governor of Madras
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
and raised to the peerage as Baron Connemara, of Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
in the County
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
of Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. In 1890 he laid the foundations stone of the Connemara Public Library
Connemara Public Library
Connemara Public Library at Chennai is one of the four National Depository Libraries which receive a copy of all books, newspapers and periodicals published in India. Established in 1890 the library is a repository of centuries-old publications, wherein lie some of the most respected works and...
in Madras, which was named after him and opened six years later. The building was originally planned to house the proposed Victoria Technical Institute
Victoria Technical Institute
Victoria Technical Institute is an institute established to commemorate the silver jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria. The institute promotes traditional handicrafts of South India.- History :...
which was constructed in 1887, the Golden Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign. The third session of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
was held at Madras in 1887 when Connemara was the Governor. He hosted a garden party at the Government House for the delegates. The construction of the Madras High Court
Madras High Court
The Madras High Court is a senior court located at Chennai , in India. The court buildings, which are believed to be the second largest judicial complex in the world, are located near the beach, in one of the city's major business districts....
was commenced in 1889.
Lord Connemara is credited with introducing a number of reforms while serving as Governor. He personally supervised the famine-relief measures at Ganjam
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Ganjam is located at . It has an average elevation of 3 metres .-Demographics:...
and reorganized the sanitary administration of Madras city. He also improved and extended the east coast railway line connecting Madras with Calcutta. The Madras Mail, in its December 4, 1890 issue, comments that his administration was "a bright epoch in the annals of Madras". He resigned as Governor on 8 November 1890 and returned to England.
Later life
Lord Connemara contributed occasionally in the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, mostly on matters dealing with foreign affairs, making his last speech in June 1898. He also published the work Parliamentary Precedents.
Family
Lord Connemara was twice married. He married firstly Lady Susan Georgiana, daughter of the James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of DalhousieJames Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC was a Scottish statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India....
, in 1863. They divorced in 1890. In 1894 he married Gertrude, former wife of Edward Coleman, in 1894. Both marriages were childless. His second wife died in November 1898. Lord Connemara died 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...
in September 1902, aged 75, and was buried in the city's Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
. His barony became extinct at his death.