William Hart Dyke
Encyclopedia
Sir William Hart Dyke, 7th Baronet PC, DL
, JP
(7 August 1837 – 3 July 1931) was an English Conservative
politician and tennis
pioneer.
and Christ Church, Oxford
. He was described as "one of the best amateur rackets players of his day". In 1860, won the championship from a professional player at the Prince's Club
, which was the former headquarters of rackets. In 1873 he played lawn tennis
in a significant early match with John Moyer Heathcote
and Julian Marshall
at Lullingstone Castle
. In 1875 with Heathcote he was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club
committee that framed the original set of rules for tennis.
Member of Parliament for West Kent between 1865 and 1868, for Mid Kent between 1868 and 1885 and for Dartford
between 1885 and 1906. He was a Conservative whip from 1868 to 1874, and held ministerial office under Benjamin Disraeli as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
from 1874–1880 and under Lord Salisbury
as Chief Secretary for Ireland
from 1885 to 1886 and as Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education
from 1887 to 1892. He succeeded father to the baronetcy in 1875, and was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1880.
, in 1870.He died in July 1931, aged 93, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his fourth and only surviving son, Oliver. Lady Hart Dyke only survived her husband by a month and died in August 1931.
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....
, JP
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...
(7 August 1837 – 3 July 1931) was an English 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...
politician and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
pioneer.
Background and education
The second son of Sir Percival Hart Dyke, 6th Baronet and Elizabeth Wells, Hart Dyke was educated at Harrow SchoolHarrow 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 Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. He was described as "one of the best amateur rackets players of his day". In 1860, won the championship from a professional player at the Prince's Club
Prince's Club
There were two sporting clubs in Knightsbridge, London, England, known as Prince's Club.The "Old Prince's Club" was built in 1853 and closed in 1940...
, which was the former headquarters of rackets. In 1873 he played lawn tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
in a significant early match with John Moyer Heathcote
John Moyer Heathcote
John Moyer Heathcote was an English barrister and real tennis player. He was one of the committee that devised the original rules of lawn tennis and is credited with devising the cloth covering for the tennis ball....
and Julian Marshall
Julian Marshall
Julian Marshall was an English amateur musician, music and print collector and tenns player and writer.-Life:Marshall was born in Headingley, Yorkshire to a flax-spinning family. His father, John Marshall had been Member of Parliament for Leeds. His grandfather was industrialist John Marshall,...
at Lullingstone Castle
Lullingstone Castle
Lullingstone Castle is a historic manor house, set in an estate in the village of Lullingstone and the civil parish of Eynsford in the English county of Kent. It has been inhabited by members of the Hart Dyke family for twenty generations.-History:...
. In 1875 with Heathcote he was a member of the 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...
committee that framed the original set of rules for tennis.
Political career
Hart Dyke was ConservativeConservative 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...
Member of Parliament for West Kent between 1865 and 1868, for Mid Kent between 1868 and 1885 and for Dartford
Dartford (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Notes and references:...
between 1885 and 1906. He was a Conservative whip from 1868 to 1874, and held ministerial office under Benjamin Disraeli as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is a junior ministerial position in the British Government. The holder is usually the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons. However, the office is no longer attached to the Treasury...
from 1874–1880 and under Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
as Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
from 1885 to 1886 and as Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
from 1887 to 1892. He succeeded father to the baronetcy in 1875, and was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1880.
Family
Hart Dyke married Lady Emily Caroline Montague, daughter of the 7th Earl of SandwichJohn Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich
John William Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich PC , styled Viscount Hinchingbrooke from 1814 to 1818, was a British peer and Conservative politician...
, in 1870.He died in July 1931, aged 93, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his fourth and only surviving son, Oliver. Lady Hart Dyke only survived her husband by a month and died in August 1931.