Sir Charles Cayzer, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles William Cayzer, 1st Baronet (15 July 1843 – 28 September 1916) was a British
businessman and Conservative Party
politician.
Born in Limehouse
, a maritime district of London, Cayzer was the son of Charles Cayzer, a schoolmaster, and his wife Mary Elizabeth née Nicklin. At the age of fifteen Cayzer took a position as clerk on a commercial shipping route to Japan. In 1861 he took up employment as a shipping agent in Bombay
and by 1868 was working for the the British-India Steam Navigation Company
as master of stores.
He left India in 1873, to work for the British-India Line's London agents. In 1876 he approached British-India's owner William McKinnon, seeking to form a business partnership. McKinnon refused, and Cayzer founded his own shipping business C.W. Cayzer & Company in Liverpool
in 1877. The company traded between India and the United Kingdom, and in the following year he formed a partnership with Captain William Irvine and the firm became Cayzer, Irvine & Company. Later in the same year the Glasgow shipbuilder Alexander Stephen
took a stake in the business which moved headquarters to Glasgow
and was relaunched as the Clan Line
. In 1880 the wealthy industrialist Thomas Coats
became involved and the enlarged Clan Line Association of Steamers was formed.
Cayzer amassed a large fortune from his shipping interests, and purchased a number of estates in Scotland, totalling approximately 12,000 acres in area. These included Gartmore
near Aberfoyle
in Perthshire
, Galston near Paisley
, Renfrewshire
and Newtyle
in Forfarshire
. He was also known for his philanthropy
, including donating Ralston House to the Red Cross
for use as a home for paralysed servicemen. In 1890 he purchased Clevedon House, Cove
as a summer home. He was elected provost
of the burgh
of Cove and Kilcreggan in 1891.
He was elected at the 1892 general election
as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Barrow in Furness, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1906 general election
. He contested the January 1910 general election in the Monmouth Boroughs
, but did not win the seat.
He was knighted
in 1897, and made a baronet
in 1904, of Gartmore, Perthshire.
Cayzer married Alice Elizabeth Trickey of Clifton, Bristol
, in 1868. The couple met in Bombay when she was travelling on her father's ship and had six sons and three daughters. His third son, August
or "Gus" was to succeed him as chairman of Clan Line and was created a baronet in 1921, while his fifth son, Herbert
or "Bertie" was also chairman of Clan Line and a Conservative member of parliament. He was created a baronet in 1924 and was raised to the peerage as Baron Rotherwick
in 1939. Two of his daughters married men who became admiral
s in the Royal Navy
: Florence, his second daughter married John Jellicoe
in 1902, while his third daughter, Constance married Charles Madden in 1905.
Cayzer died at Gartmore in September 1916 following a short illness. He was suceeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Charles William Cayzer born in 1869.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
businessman and 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.
Born in Limehouse
Limehouse
Limehouse is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is on the northern bank of the River Thames opposite Rotherhithe and between Ratcliff to the west and Millwall to the east....
, a maritime district of London, Cayzer was the son of Charles Cayzer, a schoolmaster, and his wife Mary Elizabeth née Nicklin. At the age of fifteen Cayzer took a position as clerk on a commercial shipping route to Japan. In 1861 he took up employment as a shipping agent in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and by 1868 was working for the the British-India Steam Navigation Company
British-India Steam Navigation Company
British India Steam Navigation Company was formed in 1856 as the Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company. The company had been formed out of Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co, a trading partnership of the Scots William Mackinnon and Robert Mackenzie, to carry mail between Calcutta and Rangoon. It...
as master of stores.
He left India in 1873, to work for the British-India Line's London agents. In 1876 he approached British-India's owner William McKinnon, seeking to form a business partnership. McKinnon refused, and Cayzer founded his own shipping business C.W. Cayzer & Company in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1877. The company traded between India and the United Kingdom, and in the following year he formed a partnership with Captain William Irvine and the firm became Cayzer, Irvine & Company. Later in the same year the Glasgow shipbuilder Alexander Stephen
Alexander Stephen and Sons
Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Linthouse, Govan in Glasgow, on the River Clyde.-History:...
took a stake in the business which moved headquarters to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and was relaunched as the Clan Line
Clan Line
The Clan Line was a passenger and cargo shipping company that operated in one incarnation or another from the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century.-Foundation and early years:...
. In 1880 the wealthy industrialist Thomas Coats
Thomas Coats
Thomas Coats was a Scottish thread manufacturer.-Life:Coats was born at Paisley 18 October 1809. He was the fourth of a family of ten sons. His father, James Coats, was one of the founders of the thread industry of Paisley...
became involved and the enlarged Clan Line Association of Steamers was formed.
Cayzer amassed a large fortune from his shipping interests, and purchased a number of estates in Scotland, totalling approximately 12,000 acres in area. These included Gartmore
Gartmore
Gartmore is a village in the Stirling council area, Scotland. It is a picturesque little village with an excellent view of the Wallace Monument in Stirling, almost 25 miles away....
near Aberfoyle
Aberfoyle
Aberfoyle is a village in the region of Stirling, Scotland, northwest of Glasgow.The town is situated on the River Forth at the base of Craigmore...
in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Galston near Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
and Newtyle
Newtyle
Newtyle is a village in the west of Angus, Scotland.It lies 11 miles to the north of Dundee in the south west of Strathmore, between Hatton Hill and Newtyle in the Sidlaws. The village sits on gently sloping ground with a northwest aspect. The main communication link is the B954 road...
in Forfarshire
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
. He was also known for his philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, including donating Ralston House to the Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
for use as a home for paralysed servicemen. In 1890 he purchased Clevedon House, Cove
Cove, Argyll and Bute
Cove is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It is on the south-west of the Rosneath peninsula, on the east shore of Loch Long.Before the local government reorganisation in Scotland in 1975 it formed part of the small Joint Burgh of Cove and Kilcreggan, in the County of Dumbarton.In common with...
as a summer home. He was elected provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of the burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
of Cove and Kilcreggan in 1891.
He was elected at the 1892 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
as the 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 Barrow in Furness, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
. He contested the January 1910 general election in the Monmouth Boroughs
Monmouth Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)
Monmouth Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency consisting of several towns in Monmouthshire...
, but did not win the seat.
He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1897, and made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1904, of Gartmore, Perthshire.
Cayzer married Alice Elizabeth Trickey of Clifton, Bristol
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
, in 1868. The couple met in Bombay when she was travelling on her father's ship and had six sons and three daughters. His third son, August
August Cayzer
Lieutenant-Commander Sir August Bernard Tellefsen Cayzer, 1st Baronet was an English shipowner.Cayzer was the third son of Sir Charles Cayzer, 1st Baronet, head of the shipowners Cayzer, Irvine & Co. He joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in HMS Britannia and served until 1902...
or "Gus" was to succeed him as chairman of Clan Line and was created a baronet in 1921, while his fifth son, Herbert
Herbert Cayzer, 1st Baron Rotherwick
Herbert Robin Cayzer, 1st Baron Rotherwick , known as Sir Herbert Cayzer, 1st Baronet, from 1924 to 1939, was a British shipping magnate and Conservative Party politician....
or "Bertie" was also chairman of Clan Line and a Conservative member of parliament. He was created a baronet in 1924 and was raised to the peerage as Baron Rotherwick
Baron Rotherwick
Baron Rotherwick, of Tylney in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 8 June 1939 for the shipping magnate and Conservative Member of Parliament, Sir Herbert Cayzer, 1st Baronet. He had previously represented Portsmouth South in the House of...
in 1939. Two of his daughters married men who became admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
s 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...
: Florence, his second daughter married John Jellicoe
John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe
Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, GCB, OM, GCVO was a British Royal Navy admiral who commanded the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in World War I...
in 1902, while his third daughter, Constance married Charles Madden in 1905.
Cayzer died at Gartmore in September 1916 following a short illness. He was suceeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Charles William Cayzer born in 1869.