Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael
Encyclopedia
Thomas David Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael GCSI
, GCIE
, KCMG
, DL
(18 March 1859 – 16 January 1926), known as Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, Bt, between 1891 and 1912, was a Scottish Liberal
politician and colonial administrator.
, Scotland
, Carmichael was the eldest son of Reverend Sir William Henry Gibson-Carmichael, 10th Baronet, and Eleanora, daughter of David Anderson. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge
. He succeeded his father as 11th Baronet in 1891.
to George Trevelyan
and Lord Dalhousie
, when Secretaries for Scotland
. He unsuccessfully contested Peebles and Selkirk
in 1892 but was successfully returned as Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Midlothian in 1895, succeeding William Ewart Gladstone
. He continued to represent this constituency until the 1900 general election
.
As Governor, Carmichael permitted Victoria Premier Sir Thomas Bent
who had lost a no-confidence vote on 3 December 1908 to dissolve the assembly and call for fresh elections. Thomas Bent, however, lost the elections and John Murray became the governor. A Royal Commission investigation was started in 1909 to inquire into the financial misappropriations made by Premier Bent.
In 1911 Carmichael was appointed Governor of Madras and served from 3 November 1911 to 30 March 1912.
in 1908, a GCIE
in 1911 and a GCSI
in 1917. In 1912 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Carmichael, of Skirling in the County of Peebles.
. A freemason, he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland between 1907 and 1909.
, in January 1926, aged 66, and was buried at Skirling Biggar, Lanarkshire
. The barony became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his cousin, Henry Thomas Gibson-Craig.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, GCIE
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...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(18 March 1859 – 16 January 1926), known as Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, Bt, between 1891 and 1912, was a Scottish Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and colonial administrator.
Background and education
Born at EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Carmichael was the eldest son of Reverend Sir William Henry Gibson-Carmichael, 10th Baronet, and Eleanora, daughter of David Anderson. He was educated at 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....
. He succeeded his father as 11th Baronet in 1891.
Political career
Carmichael was Private SecretaryPrivate Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to George Trevelyan
Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet
Sir George Otto Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet OM, PC was a British statesman and author. In a ministerial career stretching almost 30 years, he was most notably twice Secretary of State for Scotland under William Ewart Gladstone and the Earl of Rosebery...
and Lord Dalhousie
John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie
John William Maule Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie KT, PC , styled Lord Ramsay between 1874 and 1880, was a Scottish naval commander, courtier and Liberal politician...
, when Secretaries for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
. He unsuccessfully contested Peebles and Selkirk
Peebles and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)
Peebles and Selkirk was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.- Boundaries :...
in 1892 but was successfully returned as Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
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 Midlothian in 1895, succeeding William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
. He continued to represent this constituency until the 1900 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
.
Colonial Governor
Carmichael was appointed Governor of Victoria in 1908 and served from 27 July 1908 to 19 May 1911.As Governor, Carmichael permitted Victoria Premier Sir Thomas Bent
Thomas Bent
Sir Thomas Bent KCMG , Australian politician, was the 22nd Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most colourful and corrupt politicians in Victorian history....
who had lost a no-confidence vote on 3 December 1908 to dissolve the assembly and call for fresh elections. Thomas Bent, however, lost the elections and John Murray became the governor. A Royal Commission investigation was started in 1909 to inquire into the financial misappropriations made by Premier Bent.
In 1911 Carmichael was appointed Governor of Madras and served from 3 November 1911 to 30 March 1912.
Honours
He was appointed a KCMGOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1908, a GCIE
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...
in 1911 and a GCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in 1917. In 1912 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Carmichael, of Skirling in the County of Peebles.
Other public appointments
Carmichael was also Chairman of the Scottish Board of Lunacy from 1894 to 1897, a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery from 1904 to 1908 and of the National Gallery from 1906 to 1908 and again from 1923 to 1926. Between 1920 and 1926 he served as Lord Lieutenant of PeeblesshireLord Lieutenant of Peeblesshire
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Peeblesshire. The Lieutenancy has been replaced by the Lieutenancy of Tweeddale.*Alexander Murray, 7th Lord Elibank 12 May 1794 – 24 September 1820...
. A freemason, he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland between 1907 and 1909.
Personal life
Lord Carmichael married the Hon. Mary Helen Elizabeth, daughter of Baron Albert Nugent, in 1886. They had no children. He died at 13 Portman Street, LondonLondon
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 January 1926, aged 66, and was buried at Skirling Biggar, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
. The barony became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his cousin, Henry Thomas Gibson-Craig.