Rowland Prothero, 1st Baron Ernle
Encyclopedia
Rowland Edmund Prothero, 1st Baron Ernle MVO
, PC (6 September 1851 – 1 July 1937) was a British
agricultural expert, administrator, journalist, author and Conservative
politician.
, Isle of Wight
, Hampshire
, and his wife, Emma, only daughter of the Reverend William Money-Kyrle, of Homme House, Herefordshire. He was the brother of Sir George Prothero and Admiral Arthur Prothero. He was educated at Marlborough College
and Balliol College, Oxford
, where he gained a 1st class honours degree in Modern History in 1875. In 1878 he was called to the Bar
, Inner Temple
.
with Hampshire, and was also Proctor
between 1883 and 1884. He edited the Quarterly Review
between 1893 and 1899. From 1898 to 1918, he was chief agent for the 11th Duke of Bedford
.
, published in 1893, and Letters and Journals of Lord Byron (1898–1901). His autobiography was entitled From Whippingham to Westminster. In 1901 he was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order
(MVO).
in 1910 but was elected as Conservative
Member of Parliament
for Oxford University
at a by-election in 1914, holding the seat until 1919. He held office under David Lloyd George
as President of the Board of Agriculture
, with a seat in the cabinet, between December 1916 and 1919, in which role he introduced a guaranteed price for wheat. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1916 and in 1919 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ernle, of Chelsea in the County of London, a title chosen in reflection of his pride in his own matrilineal descent from the Ernle
family, one of the historic landed families of Sussex and Wiltshire.
and in four matches for Hampshire
. Prothero played for Hampshire between 1875-1883 before retiring from first-class cricket. Protheros' high score of 110 came for the Gentleman of England against Oxford University on 4 June 1879.
during the First World War.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, PC (6 September 1851 – 1 July 1937) 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...
agricultural expert, administrator, journalist, author and 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.
Background and education
Prothero was the son of the Reverend Canon George Prothero, Rector of St. Mildred's Church, WhippinghamSt. Mildred's Church, Whippingham
St. Mildred's Church, Whippingham is a parish church in the Church of England located in Whippingham, Isle of Wight.-History:The chancel of the church was built in 1854 and 1855 by the architect Albert Jenkins Humbert although Prince Albert is thought to have had a guiding hand.The remainder of the...
, Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, 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...
, and his wife, Emma, only daughter of the Reverend William Money-Kyrle, of Homme House, Herefordshire. He was the brother of Sir George Prothero and Admiral Arthur Prothero. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he gained a 1st class honours degree in Modern History in 1875. In 1878 he 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...
.
Academic and literary career
Prothero was a Fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford between 1875 and 1891, during which time he played first-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
with Hampshire, and was also Proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
between 1883 and 1884. He edited the Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
between 1893 and 1899. From 1898 to 1918, he was chief agent for the 11th Duke of Bedford
Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford
Herbrand Arthur Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford KG KBE DL LLD FRS FSA was the son of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford.-Family:...
.
Writings
Prothero published The Pioneers and Progress of English Farming in 1888. His other works include, English Farming Past and Present, The Psalms in Human Life, Life and Correspondence of Arthur Penrhyn StanleyArthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley was an English churchman, Dean of Westminster, known as Dean Stanley. His position was that of a Broad Churchman and he was the author of works on Church History.-Life and times:...
, published in 1893, and Letters and Journals of Lord Byron (1898–1901). His autobiography was entitled From Whippingham to Westminster. In 1901 he was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO).
Political career
Prothero unsuccessfully contested BiggleswadeBiggleswade (UK Parliament constituency)
Biggleswade was a county constituency in Bedfordshire which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until its abolition in 1918...
in 1910 but was elected as 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...
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 Oxford University
Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.-Boundaries, Electorate and Electoral System:...
at a by-election in 1914, holding the seat until 1919. He held office under David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
as President of the Board of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The post was originally named President of the Board of Agriculture and was created in 1889...
, with a seat in the cabinet, between December 1916 and 1919, in which role he introduced a guaranteed price for wheat. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1916 and in 1919 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ernle, of Chelsea in the County of London, a title chosen in reflection of his pride in his own matrilineal descent from the Ernle
Ernle
Ernle was the surname of an English gentry or landed family descended from the lords of the manor of Earnley in Sussex who derived their surname from the name of the place where their estates lay.-Onomastic:...
family, one of the historic landed families of Sussex and Wiltshire.
Cricket career
Prothero played six first-class cricket matches between 1872-1883. Twice for a Gentleman of England team against Oxford UniversityOxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
and in four matches for Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
. Prothero played for Hampshire between 1875-1883 before retiring from first-class cricket. Protheros' high score of 110 came for the Gentleman of England against Oxford University on 4 June 1879.
Family
Lord Ernle was twice married. He married firstly Mary Beatrice, daughter of John Bailward, in 1891. They had one son and one daughter. After her death in May 1899 he married secondly Barbara Jane, daughter of C. O. Hamley, in 1902. They had no children. She died in November 1930. Lord Ernle survived her by seven years and died in July 1937, aged 85. The barony became extinct upon his death, his only son, Rowland John Prothero (1894–1918), having died from wounds received in action in MesopotamiaMesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
during the First World War.