Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly
Encyclopedia
Uchter John Mark Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly GCMG
, PC
(14 August 1856–1933) was a British politician and colonial governor. He was Governor-General of New Zealand
from 1897 to 1904.
, the second son of Thomas Knox, 3rd Earl of Ranfurly
, by his wife Harriet, daughter of John Rimmington, of Broomhead Hall, Yorkshire
. Becoming a cadet on board H.M.S. Britannia, he passed for the Royal Navy
, but, giving up a naval career, entered Trinity College, Cambridge
, at the age of eighteen. He succeeded in the earldom in May 1875 when his elder brother died on a shooting expedition in Abyssinia
.
, he was a Lord-in-Waiting
to Queen Victoria from (1895–97) and was created KCMG (1897) for his public services. He was appointed to succeed the Earl of Glasgow as Governor of New Zealand on 6 April 1897, assuming office on 10 August. Lord Ranfurly became Honorary Colonel of the 1st Wellington Battalion (1898) and of the 1st South Canterbury Mounted Rifles (1902). He was created GCMG in the Coronation Honours, 1901. His term ended on 19 June 1904, when he personally handed over office to Lord Plunket.
On his return to England
he was made an Irish Privy Counsellor
(1905); then for a time he returned to farm in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. But he soon devoted more and more time to his other great interest, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1914 he was a Knight of Justice, and Registrar of the Order in London, becoming (1915–19) Director of its Ambulance Department. In 1919 the French Government made him an Officer of the Legion of Honour for his services in this connection during the war.
After the partition of Ireland
, Lord Ranfurly was made a Privy Councillor for Northern Ireland
(1923), also serving as Deputy Lieutenant
and Justice of the Peace
for his native County Tyrone
. He continued his association with the Order of St. John, becoming Bailiff Grand Cross in 1926. He died on 1 October 1933.
(the only child of the 7th Viscount Charlemont) and they had four children:
, a New Zealand sporting trophy.
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....
, PC
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(14 August 1856–1933) was a British politician and colonial governor. He was Governor-General of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
from 1897 to 1904.
Early life
Lord Ranfurly was born in GuernseyGuernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, the second son of Thomas Knox, 3rd Earl of Ranfurly
Thomas Knox, 3rd Earl of Ranfurly
Thomas Knox, 3rd Earl of Ranfurly was an Irish peer and Member of Parliament. He was the son of Thomas Knox, 2nd Earl of Ranfurly and his wife Mary Stuart, and represented Dungannon as a Member of Parliament between 9 June 1838 and 3 February 1851, when he resigned through the position of Steward...
, by his wife Harriet, daughter of John Rimmington, of Broomhead Hall, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Becoming a cadet on board H.M.S. Britannia, he passed for 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...
, but, giving up a naval career, entered Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, at the age of eighteen. He succeeded in the earldom in May 1875 when his elder brother died on a shooting expedition in Abyssinia
Ethiopian Empire
The Ethiopian Empire also known as Abyssinia, covered a geographical area that the present-day northern half of Ethiopia and Eritrea covers, and included in its peripheries Zeila, Djibouti, Yemen and Western Saudi Arabia...
.
Professional and titular roles
Prior to becoming the Governor of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, he was a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
to Queen Victoria from (1895–97) and was created KCMG (1897) for his public services. He was appointed to succeed the Earl of Glasgow as Governor of New Zealand on 6 April 1897, assuming office on 10 August. Lord Ranfurly became Honorary Colonel of the 1st Wellington Battalion (1898) and of the 1st South Canterbury Mounted Rifles (1902). He was created GCMG in the Coronation Honours, 1901. His term ended on 19 June 1904, when he personally handed over office to Lord Plunket.
On his return to 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...
he was made an Irish Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(1905); then for a time he returned to farm in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. But he soon devoted more and more time to his other great interest, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1914 he was a Knight of Justice, and Registrar of the Order in London, becoming (1915–19) Director of its Ambulance Department. In 1919 the French Government made him an Officer of the Legion of Honour for his services in this connection during the war.
After the partition of Ireland
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
, Lord Ranfurly was made a Privy Councillor for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
(1923), also serving as Deputy Lieutenant
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....
and Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for his native County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. He continued his association with the Order of St. John, becoming Bailiff Grand Cross in 1926. He died on 1 October 1933.
Family
On 10 February 1880, Lord Ranfurly married Hon. Constance CaulfieldViscount Charlemont
Viscount Charlemont is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1665 for William Caulfeild, 5th Baron Charlemont. The Caulfeild family descends from Sir Toby Caufeild, originally of Oxfordshire, England. He was a noted soldier and also represented Armagh in the Irish House of Commons...
(the only child of the 7th Viscount Charlemont) and they had four children:
- Thomas Uchter, Viscount Northland (1882–1915)
- Lady Annette Agnes (1880–1886)
- Lady Constance Harriet StuartLady Constance GaskellLady Constance Harriet Stuart Gaskell née Knox DCVO was a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary from 1937–53 and Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent from 1953–60....
(1885–1964) - Lady Eileen Maud Juliana (1891–1972)
Sporting associations
He is best known for his donation of the Ranfurly ShieldRanfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
, a New Zealand sporting trophy.
Sources
- NZETC – Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly 1856–1933 (Person) – Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
- NZETC – The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Auckland Provincial District) Uchter John Mark – Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
- RANFURLY, Sir Uchter John Mark Knox, Fifth Earl of, P.C., G.C.M.G., Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John, Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace, County Tyrone by Bernard John Foster, M.A., Research Officer, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.