William Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough
Encyclopedia
William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, KG
, GCVO
, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was an athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons firstly for the Liberal Party
and then for the Conservative
s between 1880 and 1905 when he was raised to the peerage
. He was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
for thirty-two years.
and Georgiana Lascelles, daughter of William Saunders Lascelles, MP. He was the nephew of Henry Riversdale Grenfell
, the banker and politician, and the first cousin of Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just. Grenfell was educated at Harrow School
, and Balliol College, Oxford
.
for Oxford
in the Boat Race, in the dead heat race of 1877 and Oxford's win of 1878. He won the silver medal for fencing
in the team épée at the 1906 Intercalated Games
, having been the first person to carry the flag for Great Britain in the parade of nations. In 1908, he was president of the Olympic
games held in London. He was president of the Oxford University Boat Club, the Athletic Club and of the Bartitsu
Club.
He enjoyed mountaineering
, swimming, fishing
and big-game hunting. He swam the Niagara
rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn
three times, rowed across the English Channel
and was Amateur Punting
Champion of the Upper Thames. He was President of the Amateur Fencing Association
, Marylebone Cricket Club
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
. A tennis players golf day still survives in his name since 1912 to present The Desborough Cup. He was President of the Oxford University Boat Club
in 1879.
, Grenfell was elected the Member of Parliament
for Salisbury
and held the seat until 1886. He was elected MP for Hereford
in 1892. Politically, he was a Gladstonian Liberal, but he resigned in 1893 rather than support Gladstone's
Second Irish Home Rule Bill
. He returned to the House of Commons
in 1900
as a Conservative
. In 1905, Grenfell was raised to the peerage as Baron Desborough, of Taplow
in the County of Buckingham, a title he took from the old hundred of Desborough
in Buckinghamshire
.
During a long career dedicated to public service, he was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
from 1904 to 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Agricultural Society
, amongst many others. He was High Steward
of Maidenhead
, the nearest town to his home at Taplow Court
, Taplow
. He performed many good deeds for the town, including the donation of an old chalk pit for use as a park
, to celebrate the diamond jubilee
of Queen Victoria
. Grenfell Park contains many unusual trees, the seeds of which were collected by Lord Desborough as he travelled the world. He was also an active freemason. He became a steward of Henley Royal Regatta
. He was a J.P.
for Buckinghamshire
and a Deputy Lieutenant
for Tower Hamlets. He was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
in 1889.
Desborough was appointed CVO
in 1907 and advanced to KCVO in 1908 and GCVO in 1925; and in 1928 he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
. From 1924 to 1929 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
. Between 1919 and 1929 he was chairman of the Pilgrims of Great Britain
. He planned and oversaw the construction the Desborough Cut
a channel in the Thames between Walton-on-Thames
and Weybridge
which was opened in 1935. The island created thereby was named Desborough Island
.
Desborough had the unfortunate distinction of having his obituary erroneously published on 2 December 1920 in The Times
which had confused him with Lord Bessborough
. He actually died 25 years later at the age of 89.
Lord Desborough married Ethel Fane, daughter of Julian Fane and granddaughter of John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland
, in 1887, They had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was the poet Julian Grenfell
, who was killed in action in 1915. His second son, Gerald William Grenfell, was also killed about two months after his elder brother. His third son, Ivo George Grenfell, died in 1926 as the result of a car accident. As all his sons predeceased him, the Barony became extinct. Grenfell lived at Taplow Court
where he and his wife hosted gatherings of the elite and aristocratic group, the 'Souls
'. In 1892 he built at Stické
court at the house. In 1899 he became involved as a promoter of the Bartitsu Club
, and he was named as the Club's President.
William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, KG
, GCVO
, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was an athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons firstly for the Liberal Party
and then for the Conservative
s between 1880 and 1905 when he was raised to the peerage
. He was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
for thirty-two years.
and Georgiana Lascelles, daughter of William Saunders Lascelles, MP. He was the nephew of Henry Riversdale Grenfell
, the banker and politician, and the first cousin of Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just. Grenfell was educated at Harrow School
, and Balliol College, Oxford
.
for Oxford
in the Boat Race, in the dead heat race of 1877 and Oxford's win of 1878. He won the silver medal for fencing
in the team épée at the 1906 Intercalated Games
, having been the first person to carry the flag for Great Britain in the parade of nations. In 1908, he was president of the Olympic
games held in London. He was president of the Oxford University Boat Club, the Athletic Club and of the Bartitsu
Club.
He enjoyed mountaineering
, swimming, fishing
and big-game hunting. He swam the Niagara
rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn
three times, rowed across the English Channel
and was Amateur Punting
Champion of the Upper Thames. He was President of the Amateur Fencing Association
, Marylebone Cricket Club
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
. A tennis players golf day still survives in his name since 1912 to present The Desborough Cup. He was President of the Oxford University Boat Club
in 1879.
, Grenfell was elected the Member of Parliament
for Salisbury
and held the seat until 1886. He was elected MP for Hereford
in 1892. Politically, he was a Gladstonian Liberal, but he resigned in 1893 rather than support Gladstone's
Second Irish Home Rule Bill
. He returned to the House of Commons
in 1900
as a Conservative
. In 1905, Grenfell was raised to the peerage as Baron Desborough, of Taplow
in the County of Buckingham, a title he took from the old hundred of Desborough
in Buckinghamshire
.
During a long career dedicated to public service, he was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
from 1904 to 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Agricultural Society
, amongst many others. He was High Steward
of Maidenhead
, the nearest town to his home at Taplow Court
, Taplow
. He performed many good deeds for the town, including the donation of an old chalk pit for use as a park
, to celebrate the diamond jubilee
of Queen Victoria
. Grenfell Park contains many unusual trees, the seeds of which were collected by Lord Desborough as he travelled the world. He was also an active freemason. He became a steward of Henley Royal Regatta
. He was a J.P.
for Buckinghamshire
and a Deputy Lieutenant
for Tower Hamlets. He was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
in 1889.
Desborough was appointed CVO
in 1907 and advanced to KCVO in 1908 and GCVO in 1925; and in 1928 he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
. From 1924 to 1929 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
. Between 1919 and 1929 he was chairman of the Pilgrims of Great Britain
. He planned and oversaw the construction the Desborough Cut
a channel in the Thames between Walton-on-Thames
and Weybridge
which was opened in 1935. The island created thereby was named Desborough Island
.
Desborough had the unfortunate distinction of having his obituary erroneously published on 2 December 1920 in The Times
which had confused him with Lord Bessborough
. He actually died 25 years later at the age of 89.
Lord Desborough married Ethel Fane, daughter of Julian Fane and granddaughter of John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland
, in 1887, They had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was the poet Julian Grenfell
, who was killed in action in 1915. His second son, Gerald William Grenfell, was also killed about two months after his elder brother. His third son, Ivo George Grenfell, died in 1926 as the result of a car accident. As all his sons predeceased him, the Barony became extinct. Grenfell lived at Taplow Court
where he and his wife hosted gatherings of the elite and aristocratic group, the 'Souls
'. In 1892 he built at Stické
court at the house. In 1899 he became involved as a promoter of the Bartitsu Club
, and he was named as the Club's President.
William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, KG
, GCVO
, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was an athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons firstly for the Liberal Party
and then for the Conservative
s between 1880 and 1905 when he was raised to the peerage
. He was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
for thirty-two years.
and Georgiana Lascelles, daughter of William Saunders Lascelles, MP. He was the nephew of Henry Riversdale Grenfell
, the banker and politician, and the first cousin of Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just. Grenfell was educated at Harrow School
, and Balliol College, Oxford
.
for Oxford
in the Boat Race, in the dead heat race of 1877 and Oxford's win of 1878. He won the silver medal for fencing
in the team épée at the 1906 Intercalated Games
, having been the first person to carry the flag for Great Britain in the parade of nations. In 1908, he was president of the Olympic
games held in London. He was president of the Oxford University Boat Club, the Athletic Club and of the Bartitsu
Club.
He enjoyed mountaineering
, swimming, fishing
and big-game hunting. He swam the Niagara
rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn
three times, rowed across the English Channel
and was Amateur Punting
Champion of the Upper Thames. He was President of the Amateur Fencing Association
, Marylebone Cricket Club
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
. A tennis players golf day still survives in his name since 1912 to present The Desborough Cup. He was President of the Oxford University Boat Club
in 1879.
, Grenfell was elected the Member of Parliament
for Salisbury
and held the seat until 1886. He was elected MP for Hereford
in 1892. Politically, he was a Gladstonian Liberal, but he resigned in 1893 rather than support Gladstone's
Second Irish Home Rule Bill
. He returned to the House of Commons
in 1900
as a Conservative
. In 1905, Grenfell was raised to the peerage as Baron Desborough, of Taplow
in the County of Buckingham, a title he took from the old hundred of Desborough
in Buckinghamshire
.
During a long career dedicated to public service, he was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
from 1904 to 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Agricultural Society
, amongst many others. He was High Steward
of Maidenhead
, the nearest town to his home at Taplow Court
, Taplow
. He performed many good deeds for the town, including the donation of an old chalk pit for use as a park
, to celebrate the diamond jubilee
of Queen Victoria
. Grenfell Park contains many unusual trees, the seeds of which were collected by Lord Desborough as he travelled the world. He was also an active freemason. He became a steward of Henley Royal Regatta
. He was a J.P.
for Buckinghamshire
and a Deputy Lieutenant
for Tower Hamlets. He was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
in 1889.
Desborough was appointed CVO
in 1907 and advanced to KCVO in 1908 and GCVO in 1925; and in 1928 he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
. From 1924 to 1929 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
. Between 1919 and 1929 he was chairman of the Pilgrims of Great Britain
. He planned and oversaw the construction the Desborough Cut
a channel in the Thames between Walton-on-Thames
and Weybridge
which was opened in 1935. The island created thereby was named Desborough Island
.
Desborough had the unfortunate distinction of having his obituary erroneously published on 2 December 1920 in The Times
which had confused him with Lord Bessborough
. He actually died 25 years later at the age of 89.
Lord Desborough married Ethel Fane, daughter of Julian Fane and granddaughter of John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland
, in 1887, They had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was the poet Julian Grenfell
, who was killed in action in 1915. His second son, Gerald William Grenfell, was also killed about two months after his elder brother. His third son, Ivo George Grenfell, died in 1926 as the result of a car accident. As all his sons predeceased him, the Barony became extinct. Grenfell lived at Taplow Court
where he and his wife hosted gatherings of the elite and aristocratic group, the 'Souls
'. In 1892 he built at Stické
court at the house. In 1899 he became involved as a promoter of the Bartitsu Club
, and he was named as the Club's President.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was an athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons firstly for 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 then for the Conservative
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...
s between 1880 and 1905 when he was raised to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. He was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
for thirty-two years.
Background and education
Grenfell was the son of Charles William Grenfell, former member of parliament for SandwichSandwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Sandwich was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1885, when it was disfranchised for corruption.-History:...
and Georgiana Lascelles, daughter of William Saunders Lascelles, MP. He was the nephew of Henry Riversdale Grenfell
Henry Riversdale Grenfell
Henry Riversdale Grenfell was a British banker and Liberal Party politician.His Cornish grandfather Pascoe Grenfell was a tin and copper manager and Member of Parliament , while his father, Charles Pascoe Grenfell, was a director of the Bank of England from 1830 to 1864...
, the banker and politician, and the first cousin of Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just. Grenfell was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
Athletic career
Grenfell rowedRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
for Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in the Boat Race, in the dead heat race of 1877 and Oxford's win of 1878. He won the silver medal for fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in the team épée at the 1906 Intercalated Games
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
, having been the first person to carry the flag for Great Britain in the parade of nations. In 1908, he was president of the Olympic
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
games held in London. He was president of the Oxford University Boat Club, the Athletic Club and of the Bartitsu
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
Club.
He enjoyed mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, swimming, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and big-game hunting. He swam the Niagara
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
three times, rowed across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and was Amateur Punting
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
Champion of the Upper Thames. He was President of the Amateur Fencing Association
British Fencing Association
British Fencing is the governing body for the sport of fencing in the UK.-History:In 1902, the Amateur Fencing Association was founded as the governing body for fencing in the UK...
, Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
. A tennis players golf day still survives in his name since 1912 to present The Desborough Cup. He was President of the Oxford University Boat Club
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in 1879.
Political career
In the 1880 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, Grenfell was elected 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,...
for Salisbury
Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Salisbury is a county constituency centred on the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system....
and held the seat until 1886. He was elected MP for Hereford
Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)
Hereford was, until 2010, a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1918, it had elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in 1892. Politically, he was a Gladstonian Liberal, but he resigned in 1893 rather than support Gladstone's
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...
Second Irish Home Rule Bill
Irish Government Bill 1893
The Government of Ireland Bill 1893 was the second attempt made by William Ewart Gladstone, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to enact a system of home rule for Ireland...
. He returned to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1900
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**...
as a Conservative
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...
. In 1905, Grenfell was raised to the peerage as Baron Desborough, of Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
in the County of Buckingham, a title he took from the old hundred of Desborough
Desborough (hundred)
Desborough Hundred is a hundred in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated in the south of the county and is bounded on the west by Oxfordshire and on the south the River Thames marked the boundary with Berkshire.-History:...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
Other public appointments
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
from 1904 to 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
, amongst many others. He was High Steward
High steward (civic)
High steward is an honorary title bestowed by the councils or charter trustees of certain towns and cities in England. Originally a judicial office with considerable local powers, by the 17th century it had declined to a largely ceremonial role. The title is usually awarded for life, and in some...
of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, the nearest town to his home at Taplow Court
Taplow Court
Taplow Court is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England.The Taplow burial, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial mound, is in the grounds of the house, near the church....
, Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
. He performed many good deeds for the town, including the donation of an old chalk pit for use as a park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
, to celebrate the diamond jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Grenfell Park contains many unusual trees, the seeds of which were collected by Lord Desborough as he travelled the world. He was also an active freemason. He became a steward of Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. He was a J.P.
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 Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and a 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....
for Tower Hamlets. He was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times...
in 1889.
Desborough was appointed CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1907 and advanced to KCVO in 1908 and GCVO in 1925; and in 1928 he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. From 1924 to 1929 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Yeomen of the Guard
The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard are a bodyguard of the British Monarch. The oldest British military corps still in existence, it was created by Henry VII in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As a token of this venerability, the Yeomen still wear red and gold uniforms of Tudor...
. Between 1919 and 1929 he was chairman of the Pilgrims of Great Britain
Pilgrims Society
The Pilgrims Society, founded in 1902, is a British-American society established, in the words of American diplomat Joseph Choate, 'to promote good-will, good-fellowship, and everlasting peace between the United States and Great Britain'...
. He planned and oversaw the construction the Desborough Cut
Desborough Cut
The Desborough Cut is an artificial channel in the River Thames above Sunbury Lock near Walton on Thames in England. It which was completed in 1935 to improve flow and ease navigation on the river....
a channel in the Thames between Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a town in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey in South East England. The town is located south west of Charing Cross and is between the towns of Weybridge and Molesey. It is situated on the River Thames between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock.- History :The name "Walton" is...
and Weybridge
Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
which was opened in 1935. The island created thereby was named Desborough Island
Desborough Island
Desborough Island is a large artificially-created island in the River Thames on the reach above Sunbury Lock in Surrey, England. The island was formed in 1930s by the digging of a channel - the Desborough Cut - by the Thames Conservancy...
.
Desborough had the unfortunate distinction of having his obituary erroneously published on 2 December 1920 in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
which had confused him with Lord Bessborough
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, KP, CB, CVO was a British peer.-Biography:Ponsonby was the eldest son of Rev. Walter Ponsonby and his wife, Louisa, the daughter of Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans...
. He actually died 25 years later at the age of 89.
Family
John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland
General John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland GCB, GCH, PC , styled Lord Burghersh until 1841, was a British soldier, politician, diplomat and musician.-Background:...
, in 1887, They had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was the poet Julian Grenfell
Julian Grenfell
The Honourable Julian Henry Francis Grenfell DSO , was a British soldier and poet of World War I.-Early life:Julian Grenfell was born at 4 St James's Square, London, the eldest son of William Grenfell, later Baron Desborough, and Ethel Priscilla Fane, daughter of Julian Fane...
, who was killed in action in 1915. His second son, Gerald William Grenfell, was also killed about two months after his elder brother. His third son, Ivo George Grenfell, died in 1926 as the result of a car accident. As all his sons predeceased him, the Barony became extinct. Grenfell lived at Taplow Court
Taplow Court
Taplow Court is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England.The Taplow burial, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial mound, is in the grounds of the house, near the church....
where he and his wife hosted gatherings of the elite and aristocratic group, the 'Souls
The Souls
The Souls were a small, loosely-knit but distinctive social group in England, from 1885 to about 1920. Their members included many of the most distinguished English politicians and intellectuals....
'. In 1892 he built at Stické
Stické
Stické is a racquet sport invented in the late 19th century merging aspects of real tennis, racquets, and lawn tennis...
court at the house. In 1899 he became involved as a promoter of the Bartitsu Club
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
, and he was named as the Club's President.
External links
- William Henry Grenfell at Grenfell family history site
William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, KG
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was an athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons firstly for 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 then for the Conservative
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...
s between 1880 and 1905 when he was raised to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. He was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
for thirty-two years.
Background and education
Grenfell was the son of Charles William Grenfell, former member of parliament for SandwichSandwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Sandwich was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1885, when it was disfranchised for corruption.-History:...
and Georgiana Lascelles, daughter of William Saunders Lascelles, MP. He was the nephew of Henry Riversdale Grenfell
Henry Riversdale Grenfell
Henry Riversdale Grenfell was a British banker and Liberal Party politician.His Cornish grandfather Pascoe Grenfell was a tin and copper manager and Member of Parliament , while his father, Charles Pascoe Grenfell, was a director of the Bank of England from 1830 to 1864...
, the banker and politician, and the first cousin of Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just. Grenfell was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
Athletic career
Grenfell rowedRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
for Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in the Boat Race, in the dead heat race of 1877 and Oxford's win of 1878. He won the silver medal for fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in the team épée at the 1906 Intercalated Games
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
, having been the first person to carry the flag for Great Britain in the parade of nations. In 1908, he was president of the Olympic
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
games held in London. He was president of the Oxford University Boat Club, the Athletic Club and of the Bartitsu
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
Club.
He enjoyed mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, swimming, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and big-game hunting. He swam the Niagara
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
three times, rowed across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and was Amateur Punting
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
Champion of the Upper Thames. He was President of the Amateur Fencing Association
British Fencing Association
British Fencing is the governing body for the sport of fencing in the UK.-History:In 1902, the Amateur Fencing Association was founded as the governing body for fencing in the UK...
, Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
. A tennis players golf day still survives in his name since 1912 to present The Desborough Cup. He was President of the Oxford University Boat Club
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in 1879.
Political career
In the 1880 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, Grenfell was elected 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,...
for Salisbury
Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Salisbury is a county constituency centred on the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system....
and held the seat until 1886. He was elected MP for Hereford
Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)
Hereford was, until 2010, a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1918, it had elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in 1892. Politically, he was a Gladstonian Liberal, but he resigned in 1893 rather than support Gladstone's
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...
Second Irish Home Rule Bill
Irish Government Bill 1893
The Government of Ireland Bill 1893 was the second attempt made by William Ewart Gladstone, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to enact a system of home rule for Ireland...
. He returned to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1900
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**...
as a Conservative
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...
. In 1905, Grenfell was raised to the peerage as Baron Desborough, of Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
in the County of Buckingham, a title he took from the old hundred of Desborough
Desborough (hundred)
Desborough Hundred is a hundred in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated in the south of the county and is bounded on the west by Oxfordshire and on the south the River Thames marked the boundary with Berkshire.-History:...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
Other public appointments
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
from 1904 to 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
, amongst many others. He was High Steward
High steward (civic)
High steward is an honorary title bestowed by the councils or charter trustees of certain towns and cities in England. Originally a judicial office with considerable local powers, by the 17th century it had declined to a largely ceremonial role. The title is usually awarded for life, and in some...
of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, the nearest town to his home at Taplow Court
Taplow Court
Taplow Court is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England.The Taplow burial, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial mound, is in the grounds of the house, near the church....
, Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
. He performed many good deeds for the town, including the donation of an old chalk pit for use as a park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
, to celebrate the diamond jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Grenfell Park contains many unusual trees, the seeds of which were collected by Lord Desborough as he travelled the world. He was also an active freemason. He became a steward of Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. He was a J.P.
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 Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and a 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....
for Tower Hamlets. He was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times...
in 1889.
Desborough was appointed CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1907 and advanced to KCVO in 1908 and GCVO in 1925; and in 1928 he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. From 1924 to 1929 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Yeomen of the Guard
The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard are a bodyguard of the British Monarch. The oldest British military corps still in existence, it was created by Henry VII in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As a token of this venerability, the Yeomen still wear red and gold uniforms of Tudor...
. Between 1919 and 1929 he was chairman of the Pilgrims of Great Britain
Pilgrims Society
The Pilgrims Society, founded in 1902, is a British-American society established, in the words of American diplomat Joseph Choate, 'to promote good-will, good-fellowship, and everlasting peace between the United States and Great Britain'...
. He planned and oversaw the construction the Desborough Cut
Desborough Cut
The Desborough Cut is an artificial channel in the River Thames above Sunbury Lock near Walton on Thames in England. It which was completed in 1935 to improve flow and ease navigation on the river....
a channel in the Thames between Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a town in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey in South East England. The town is located south west of Charing Cross and is between the towns of Weybridge and Molesey. It is situated on the River Thames between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock.- History :The name "Walton" is...
and Weybridge
Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
which was opened in 1935. The island created thereby was named Desborough Island
Desborough Island
Desborough Island is a large artificially-created island in the River Thames on the reach above Sunbury Lock in Surrey, England. The island was formed in 1930s by the digging of a channel - the Desborough Cut - by the Thames Conservancy...
.
Desborough had the unfortunate distinction of having his obituary erroneously published on 2 December 1920 in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
which had confused him with Lord Bessborough
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, KP, CB, CVO was a British peer.-Biography:Ponsonby was the eldest son of Rev. Walter Ponsonby and his wife, Louisa, the daughter of Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans...
. He actually died 25 years later at the age of 89.
Family
John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland
General John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland GCB, GCH, PC , styled Lord Burghersh until 1841, was a British soldier, politician, diplomat and musician.-Background:...
, in 1887, They had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was the poet Julian Grenfell
Julian Grenfell
The Honourable Julian Henry Francis Grenfell DSO , was a British soldier and poet of World War I.-Early life:Julian Grenfell was born at 4 St James's Square, London, the eldest son of William Grenfell, later Baron Desborough, and Ethel Priscilla Fane, daughter of Julian Fane...
, who was killed in action in 1915. His second son, Gerald William Grenfell, was also killed about two months after his elder brother. His third son, Ivo George Grenfell, died in 1926 as the result of a car accident. As all his sons predeceased him, the Barony became extinct. Grenfell lived at Taplow Court
Taplow Court
Taplow Court is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England.The Taplow burial, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial mound, is in the grounds of the house, near the church....
where he and his wife hosted gatherings of the elite and aristocratic group, the 'Souls
The Souls
The Souls were a small, loosely-knit but distinctive social group in England, from 1885 to about 1920. Their members included many of the most distinguished English politicians and intellectuals....
'. In 1892 he built at Stické
Stické
Stické is a racquet sport invented in the late 19th century merging aspects of real tennis, racquets, and lawn tennis...
court at the house. In 1899 he became involved as a promoter of the Bartitsu Club
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
, and he was named as the Club's President.
External links
- William Henry Grenfell at Grenfell family history site
William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, KG
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was an athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons firstly for 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 then for the Conservative
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...
s between 1880 and 1905 when he was raised to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. He was President of the Thames Conservancy Board
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
for thirty-two years.
Background and education
Grenfell was the son of Charles William Grenfell, former member of parliament for SandwichSandwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Sandwich was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1885, when it was disfranchised for corruption.-History:...
and Georgiana Lascelles, daughter of William Saunders Lascelles, MP. He was the nephew of Henry Riversdale Grenfell
Henry Riversdale Grenfell
Henry Riversdale Grenfell was a British banker and Liberal Party politician.His Cornish grandfather Pascoe Grenfell was a tin and copper manager and Member of Parliament , while his father, Charles Pascoe Grenfell, was a director of the Bank of England from 1830 to 1864...
, the banker and politician, and the first cousin of Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just. Grenfell was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
Athletic career
Grenfell rowedRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
for Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in the Boat Race, in the dead heat race of 1877 and Oxford's win of 1878. He won the silver medal for fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in the team épée at the 1906 Intercalated Games
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
, having been the first person to carry the flag for Great Britain in the parade of nations. In 1908, he was president of the Olympic
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
games held in London. He was president of the Oxford University Boat Club, the Athletic Club and of the Bartitsu
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
Club.
He enjoyed mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, swimming, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and big-game hunting. He swam the Niagara
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
three times, rowed across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and was Amateur Punting
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
Champion of the Upper Thames. He was President of the Amateur Fencing Association
British Fencing Association
British Fencing is the governing body for the sport of fencing in the UK.-History:In 1902, the Amateur Fencing Association was founded as the governing body for fencing in the UK...
, Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
. A tennis players golf day still survives in his name since 1912 to present The Desborough Cup. He was President of the Oxford University Boat Club
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in 1879.
Political career
In the 1880 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, Grenfell was elected 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,...
for Salisbury
Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Salisbury is a county constituency centred on the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system....
and held the seat until 1886. He was elected MP for Hereford
Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)
Hereford was, until 2010, a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1918, it had elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in 1892. Politically, he was a Gladstonian Liberal, but he resigned in 1893 rather than support Gladstone's
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...
Second Irish Home Rule Bill
Irish Government Bill 1893
The Government of Ireland Bill 1893 was the second attempt made by William Ewart Gladstone, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to enact a system of home rule for Ireland...
. He returned to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1900
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**...
as a Conservative
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...
. In 1905, Grenfell was raised to the peerage as Baron Desborough, of Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
in the County of Buckingham, a title he took from the old hundred of Desborough
Desborough (hundred)
Desborough Hundred is a hundred in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated in the south of the county and is bounded on the west by Oxfordshire and on the south the River Thames marked the boundary with Berkshire.-History:...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
Other public appointments
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
from 1904 to 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
, amongst many others. He was High Steward
High steward (civic)
High steward is an honorary title bestowed by the councils or charter trustees of certain towns and cities in England. Originally a judicial office with considerable local powers, by the 17th century it had declined to a largely ceremonial role. The title is usually awarded for life, and in some...
of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, the nearest town to his home at Taplow Court
Taplow Court
Taplow Court is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England.The Taplow burial, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial mound, is in the grounds of the house, near the church....
, Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
. He performed many good deeds for the town, including the donation of an old chalk pit for use as a park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
, to celebrate the diamond jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Grenfell Park contains many unusual trees, the seeds of which were collected by Lord Desborough as he travelled the world. He was also an active freemason. He became a steward of Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. He was a J.P.
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 Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and a 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....
for Tower Hamlets. He was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times...
in 1889.
Desborough was appointed CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1907 and advanced to KCVO in 1908 and GCVO in 1925; and in 1928 he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. From 1924 to 1929 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Yeomen of the Guard
The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard are a bodyguard of the British Monarch. The oldest British military corps still in existence, it was created by Henry VII in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As a token of this venerability, the Yeomen still wear red and gold uniforms of Tudor...
. Between 1919 and 1929 he was chairman of the Pilgrims of Great Britain
Pilgrims Society
The Pilgrims Society, founded in 1902, is a British-American society established, in the words of American diplomat Joseph Choate, 'to promote good-will, good-fellowship, and everlasting peace between the United States and Great Britain'...
. He planned and oversaw the construction the Desborough Cut
Desborough Cut
The Desborough Cut is an artificial channel in the River Thames above Sunbury Lock near Walton on Thames in England. It which was completed in 1935 to improve flow and ease navigation on the river....
a channel in the Thames between Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a town in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey in South East England. The town is located south west of Charing Cross and is between the towns of Weybridge and Molesey. It is situated on the River Thames between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock.- History :The name "Walton" is...
and Weybridge
Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
which was opened in 1935. The island created thereby was named Desborough Island
Desborough Island
Desborough Island is a large artificially-created island in the River Thames on the reach above Sunbury Lock in Surrey, England. The island was formed in 1930s by the digging of a channel - the Desborough Cut - by the Thames Conservancy...
.
Desborough had the unfortunate distinction of having his obituary erroneously published on 2 December 1920 in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
which had confused him with Lord Bessborough
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, KP, CB, CVO was a British peer.-Biography:Ponsonby was the eldest son of Rev. Walter Ponsonby and his wife, Louisa, the daughter of Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans...
. He actually died 25 years later at the age of 89.
Family
John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland
General John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland GCB, GCH, PC , styled Lord Burghersh until 1841, was a British soldier, politician, diplomat and musician.-Background:...
, in 1887, They had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was the poet Julian Grenfell
Julian Grenfell
The Honourable Julian Henry Francis Grenfell DSO , was a British soldier and poet of World War I.-Early life:Julian Grenfell was born at 4 St James's Square, London, the eldest son of William Grenfell, later Baron Desborough, and Ethel Priscilla Fane, daughter of Julian Fane...
, who was killed in action in 1915. His second son, Gerald William Grenfell, was also killed about two months after his elder brother. His third son, Ivo George Grenfell, died in 1926 as the result of a car accident. As all his sons predeceased him, the Barony became extinct. Grenfell lived at Taplow Court
Taplow Court
Taplow Court is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England.The Taplow burial, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial mound, is in the grounds of the house, near the church....
where he and his wife hosted gatherings of the elite and aristocratic group, the 'Souls
The Souls
The Souls were a small, loosely-knit but distinctive social group in England, from 1885 to about 1920. Their members included many of the most distinguished English politicians and intellectuals....
'. In 1892 he built at Stické
Stické
Stické is a racquet sport invented in the late 19th century merging aspects of real tennis, racquets, and lawn tennis...
court at the house. In 1899 he became involved as a promoter of the Bartitsu Club
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
, and he was named as the Club's President.
External links
- William Henry Grenfell at Grenfell family history site