Thomas Wyse
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Wyse KCB
(24 December 1791 – 16 April 1862), an Irish
politician
and diplomat
, belonged to a family claiming descent from a Devon
man, Andrew Wyse, who is said to have crossed over to Ireland during the reign of Henry II
and obtained lands near Waterford
, of which city thirty-three members of the family are said to have been mayors or other municipal officers.
From the Reformation
the family had been consistently attached to the Roman Catholic Church
. Wyse was educated at Stonyhurst College
and at Trinity College, Dublin
, where he distinguished himself as a scholar. After 1815 he passed some years in travel, visiting Italy
, Greece
, Egypt
and Palestine
. In 1821 he married princess Letizia Bonaparte (d. 1871), daughter of Lucien Bonaparte
, and after residing for a time at Viterbo
he returned to Ireland in 1825, having by this time inherited the family estates.
He now devoted his great oratorical and other talents to forwarding the cause of Roman Catholic emancipation
, and his influence was specially marked in his own county of Waterford, while his standing among his associates was shown by his being chosen to write the address to the people of England
.
In 1830, after the passing of the Catholic Relief Act 1829
, he was returned to parliament for the Tipperary
constituency, and he attached himself to the Liberal Party
and voted for the great measures of the reform era. But he was specially anxious to secure some improvement in the education of the Irish people, and some of his proposals were accepted by Edward Stanley
, later 14th earl of Derby, and the government, he was chairman of a committee which inquired into the condition of education in Ireland, and it was partly owing to his efforts that provincial colleges were established at Cork
, Galway
and Belfast
.
His work as an educational pioneer also bore fruit in England, where the principles of state control and inspection, for which he had fought, were adopted, and where a training college for teachers at Battersea
was established on lines suggested by him. From 1835 to 1847 he was MP
for the Waterford City
constituency and from 1839 to 1841 he was a Lord of the Treasury
; from 1846 to 1849 he was Secretary to the Board of Control
, and in 1849 he was sent as British minister to Greece. He was very successful in his diplomacy, and he showed a great interest in the educational and other internal affairs of Greece. In 1857 he was made a KCB, and he died at Athens
on April 16, 1862.
Wyse wrote Historical Sketch of the late Catholic Association of Ireland (London 1829); Education reform or the necessity of a national system of education (London 1836); An Excursion in the Peloponnesus (1858, new ed. 1865); and Impressions of Greece (London 1871). His two sons shared his literary tastes. They were Napoleon Alfred Bonaparte Wyse (1822–1895); and William Charles Bonaparte-Wyse
(1826–1892), a student of the dialect of Provence
. The marriage to his wife Letizia, thirteen years younger than him and only sixteen years old when the wedding took place, did not last. After an especially violent fight in 1824 (so fierce that their carriage rocked on its springs), she fled to a convent and asked for a separation. Wyse and her father got a papal order of seclusion in the convent. After eight months, when Wyse threatened to leave Italy without her, she submitted and travelled to Ireland with him. However the arguments continued and in May 1828 they agreed to a separation. Letitia threw herself into the Serpentine
and was rescued by Captain Studholm John Hodgson (1805–1890), a British Army officer who became her lover. They had three children who survived to adulthood: Adeline (1838-1899), who married the Hungarian general István Türr
, the explorer Lucien Napoléon Bonaparte-Wyse
(1845–1909) and the writer Laetitia Marie Wyse Bonaparte
, (1831–1902), baptised Studholmina-Maria, all of whom used the surname Bonaparte-Wyse.
Wyse was the subject of a biography written by James Auchmuty
, Sir Thomas Wyse, 1791-1862: the life and career of an educator and diplomat, London 1939.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(24 December 1791 – 16 April 1862), an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, belonged to a family claiming descent from a Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
man, Andrew Wyse, who is said to have crossed over to Ireland during the reign of Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
and obtained lands near Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, of which city thirty-three members of the family are said to have been mayors or other municipal officers.
From the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
the family had been consistently attached to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Wyse was educated at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
and at 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...
, where he distinguished himself as a scholar. After 1815 he passed some years in travel, visiting Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. In 1821 he married princess Letizia Bonaparte (d. 1871), daughter of Lucien Bonaparte
Lucien Bonaparte
Lucien Bonaparte, Prince Français, 1st Prince of Canino and Musignano , born Luciano Buonaparte, was the third surviving son of Carlo Buonaparte and his wife Letizia Ramolino....
, and after residing for a time at Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
he returned to Ireland in 1825, having by this time inherited the family estates.
He now devoted his great oratorical and other talents to forwarding the cause of Roman Catholic emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
, and his influence was specially marked in his own county of Waterford, while his standing among his associates was shown by his being chosen to write the address to the people of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In 1830, after the passing of the Catholic Relief Act 1829
Catholic Relief Act 1829
The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 24 March 1829, and received Royal Assent on 13 April. It was the culmination of the process of Catholic Emancipation throughout the nation...
, he was returned to parliament for the Tipperary
Tipperary (UK Parliament constituency)
Tipperary, also known as Tipperary County, was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:...
constituency, and he attached himself to the Liberal Party
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...
and voted for the great measures of the reform era. But he was specially anxious to secure some improvement in the education of the Irish people, and some of his proposals were accepted by Edward Stanley
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
, later 14th earl of Derby, and the government, he was chairman of a committee which inquired into the condition of education in Ireland, and it was partly owing to his efforts that provincial colleges were established at Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
His work as an educational pioneer also bore fruit in England, where the principles of state control and inspection, for which he had fought, were adopted, and where a training college for teachers at Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
was established on lines suggested by him. From 1835 to 1847 he was MP
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 the Waterford City
Waterford City (UK Parliament constituency)
Waterford City was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency was the Parliamentary borough of Waterford in County Waterford.It returned one MP 1801–1832, two MPs 1832–1885 and one 1885–1922...
constituency and from 1839 to 1841 he was a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
; from 1846 to 1849 he was Secretary to the Board of Control
Secretary to the Board of Control
The Secretary to the Board of Control was a British government office in the late 18th and early 19th century, supporting the President of the Board of Control, who was responsible for overseeing the British East India Company and generally serving as the chief official in London responsible for...
, and in 1849 he was sent as British minister to Greece. He was very successful in his diplomacy, and he showed a great interest in the educational and other internal affairs of Greece. In 1857 he was made a KCB, and he died at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
on April 16, 1862.
Wyse wrote Historical Sketch of the late Catholic Association of Ireland (London 1829); Education reform or the necessity of a national system of education (London 1836); An Excursion in the Peloponnesus (1858, new ed. 1865); and Impressions of Greece (London 1871). His two sons shared his literary tastes. They were Napoleon Alfred Bonaparte Wyse (1822–1895); and William Charles Bonaparte-Wyse
William Charles Bonaparte-Wyse
Captain William Charles Bonaparte-Wyse was an Irish soldier and poet.William Charles Bonaparte-Wyse was born in Waterford, the son of the politician and educational reformer Sir Thomas Wyse, and Laetitia, daughter of Lucien Bonaparte...
(1826–1892), a student of the dialect of Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
. The marriage to his wife Letizia, thirteen years younger than him and only sixteen years old when the wedding took place, did not last. After an especially violent fight in 1824 (so fierce that their carriage rocked on its springs), she fled to a convent and asked for a separation. Wyse and her father got a papal order of seclusion in the convent. After eight months, when Wyse threatened to leave Italy without her, she submitted and travelled to Ireland with him. However the arguments continued and in May 1828 they agreed to a separation. Letitia threw herself into the Serpentine
Serpentine (lake)
The Serpentine is a 28-acre recreational lake in Hyde Park, London, England, created in 1730. Although it is common to refer to the entire body of water as the Serpentine, strictly the name refers only to the eastern half of the lake...
and was rescued by Captain Studholm John Hodgson (1805–1890), a British Army officer who became her lover. They had three children who survived to adulthood: Adeline (1838-1899), who married the Hungarian general István Türr
István Türr
István Türr , was a Hungarian soldier, revolutionary, canal architect and engineer, remembered in Italy for his role in that country's unification and his association with Garibaldi...
, the explorer Lucien Napoléon Bonaparte-Wyse
Lucien Napoléon Bonaparte-Wyse
- Biographie :Born in Paris, the son of Laetitia Bonaparte-Wyse, daughter of Lucien Bonaparte and estranged wife of the Irish politician Sir Thomas Wyse, Lucien Napoléon Bonaparte-Wyse's real father was a British army officer, Captain Studholm John Hodgson. He joined the French navy as a midshipman...
(1845–1909) and the writer Laetitia Marie Wyse Bonaparte
Laetitia Marie Wyse Bonaparte
Lætitia Marie Wyse Bonaparte was a French author.-Biography:She was born in Waterford, Ireland...
, (1831–1902), baptised Studholmina-Maria, all of whom used the surname Bonaparte-Wyse.
Wyse was the subject of a biography written by James Auchmuty
James Auchmuty
James Johnston Auchmuty was an Irish born historian.After graduating from Trinity College Dublin, he moved to Australia.He was the first vice-chancellor of the University of Newcastle, Australia.-References:...
, Sir Thomas Wyse, 1791-1862: the life and career of an educator and diplomat, London 1939.