Samuel Whitbread
Encyclopedia
Samuel Whitbread was an English politician
.
, the son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread
. He was educated at Eton College
, Christ Church, Oxford
and St John's College, Cambridge
, after which he embarked on a European 'Grand Tour', visiting Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Prussia
, France and Italy. He returned to England in May 1786 and joined his father's successful brewing business.
for Bedford in 1790, a post he held for twenty-three years. Whitbread was a reformer — a champion of religious and civil rights, for the abolition of slavery
, and a proponent of a national education system. He was a close friend and colleague of John Howard
and of Charles James Fox
. After Fox's death, Whitbread took over the leadership of the Whigs
, and in 1805 led the campaign to have Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
, removed from office.
Whitbread admired Napoleon and his reforms in France and Europe. He hoped that much that Napoleon reforms would be implemented in Britain itself. Throughout the Peninsular War
he played down French defeats convinced that sooner of later Napoleon would triumph and did all he could to bring about a withdrawal of Britain from the continent. When Napoleon abdicated in 1814 he was devastated. Whitbread began to suffer from depression
, and on the morning of 6 July 1815, he committed suicide
by cutting his throat with a razor.
on 26 December 1787. Their sons William Henry Whitbread
and Samuel Charles Whitbread
were also Members of Parliament.
Samuel Whitbread Community College
in Mid-Bedfordshire, England is named after him.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Early life
Whitbread was born in Cardington, BedfordshireCardington, Bedfordshire
Cardington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, EnglandPart of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station...
, the son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread
Samuel Whitbread (brewer)
Samuel Whitbread was an English brewer and Member of Parliament. In 1742, he established a brewery that in 1799 became Whitbread & Co Ltd.-Biography:...
. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, after which he embarked on a European 'Grand Tour', visiting Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, France and Italy. He returned to England in May 1786 and joined his father's successful brewing business.
Member of Parliament
Whitbread was elected 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 Bedford in 1790, a post he held for twenty-three years. Whitbread was a reformer — a champion of religious and civil rights, for the abolition of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, and a proponent of a national education system. He was a close friend and colleague of John Howard
John Howard (prison reformer)
John Howard was a philanthropist and the first English prison reformer.-Birth and early life:Howard was born in Lower Clapton, London. His father, also John, was a wealthy upholsterer at Smithfield Market in the city...
and of Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox PC , styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
. After Fox's death, Whitbread took over the leadership of the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
, and in 1805 led the campaign to have Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville PC and Baron Dunira was a Scottish lawyer and politician. He was the first Secretary of State for War and the last person to be impeached in the United Kingdom....
, removed from office.
Whitbread admired Napoleon and his reforms in France and Europe. He hoped that much that Napoleon reforms would be implemented in Britain itself. Throughout the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
he played down French defeats convinced that sooner of later Napoleon would triumph and did all he could to bring about a withdrawal of Britain from the continent. When Napoleon abdicated in 1814 he was devastated. Whitbread began to suffer from depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
, and on the morning of 6 July 1815, he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by cutting his throat with a razor.
Family
Whitbread married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the first Earl GreyCharles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey, KB PC was one of the most important British generals of the 18th century. He was the fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, 1st Baronet, of Howick in Northumberland. He served in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and French Revolutionary War...
on 26 December 1787. Their sons William Henry Whitbread
William Henry Whitbread
William Henry Whitbread was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1818 to 1835....
and Samuel Charles Whitbread
Samuel Charles Whitbread
Samuel Charles Whitbread was a British Member of Parliament and member of the Whitbread brewing family.He was the son of Samuel Whitbread. He represented the constituency of Middlesex and was High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1831.His interests were astronomy and meteorology...
were also Members of Parliament.
Samuel Whitbread Community College
Samuel Whitbread Community College
Samuel Whitbread Community College serves the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford in Central Bedfordshire. It consists of an expanding upper school for years 13-18, a nursery school and facilities for adult education...
in Mid-Bedfordshire, England is named after him.
Further reading
- Fulford, Roger. Samuel Whitbread, 1764-1815: A study in opposition, MacMillan, 1967. (ISBN B0000CNFHB)