William Henry Gregory
Encyclopedia
Sir William Henry Gregory PC (Ire)
(12 July 1817 – 6 March 1892) was an Anglo-Irish
writer and politician.
The only child of Robert Gregory and Elizabeth O'Hara Gregory, he was born at the Castle, in Dublin's Phoenix Park
. From 1830 to 1835 he attended Harrow
, where he was an award-winning student. He subsequently entered Christ Church, Oxford
in 1836 but left three years later without receiving a qualification.
Gregory was elected to the British House of Commons
in an 1842 by-election as a Conservative
member for Dublin. Among his close associates were Sir Robert Peel, Lord Lincoln
, and Lord George Bentinck
. After Gregory failed to retain his seat in the 1847 general election
, he took up residence at the family estate at Coole Park
in County Galway
. He was appointed High Sheriff of County Galway in 1849.
Gregory traveled to Egypt
in 1855 and wrote a two-volume work on his travels, Egypt in 1855 and 1856, and Tunis in 1857 and 1858, published privately in London in 1859. In the 1857
he was returned to parliament for the County Galway
on a liberal-conservative platform. In 1859 he travelled through North America
, befriending several southern Congressmen, including James Murray Mason of Virginia
and William Porcher Miles
of South Carolina
.
Throughout the American Civil War
Gregory was an avid supporter of the Confederacy
. He also argued that Britain should pursue strong anti-Turkish
policy and supported the cession of the Ionian Islands
and Crete
to Greece
. In domestic affairs Gregory was active in defending the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland and working for land reform. His interest in the arts led to a long association with the British Museum
.
On 10 July 1871 he was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
and in the following year Gregory was appointed Governor of Ceylon. He hosted the Prince of Wales
in 1875, at which time he was presented with the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Gregory retired from office in 1877 and returned to England via Australia
. He did not return to political office after 1877 and spent most of the following years travelling. From October 1881 to April 1882, he toured Egypt and reported on the revolution there. Gregory returned to Ceylon in 1884 and 1885.
In Dublin, Gregory was a member of the Kildare Street Club
.
Gregory was addicted to horse racing
, which led to financial difficulties throughout his life. He remained fond of classical languages and literature and always took an interest in artistic affairs.
Gregory married twice. On 11 January 1872 he married Elizabeth Temple Bowdoin, (d. 28 June 1873) widow of James Temple Bowdoin and daughter of Sir William Clay. On 4 March 1880 Gregory married Isabelle Augusta Gregory. Their son, William Robert Gregory, was born on 20 May 1881.
Gregory died on 6 March 1892 of respiratory failure
in London. His autobiography was edited and published by Lady Gregory in 1894.
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...
(12 July 1817 – 6 March 1892) was an Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
writer and politician.
The only child of Robert Gregory and Elizabeth O'Hara Gregory, he was born at the Castle, in Dublin's Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
. From 1830 to 1835 he attended Harrow
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...
, where he was an award-winning student. He subsequently entered 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...
in 1836 but left three years later without receiving a qualification.
Gregory was elected to the British 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 an 1842 by-election as a Conservative
Irish Conservative Party
The Irish Conservative Party, often called the Irish Tories, was one of the dominant Irish political parties in Ireland in the 19th century...
member for Dublin. Among his close associates were Sir Robert Peel, Lord Lincoln
Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne
Henry Pelham Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne KG, PC , styled Earl of Lincoln before 1851, was a British politician.-Background:...
, and Lord George Bentinck
Lord George Bentinck
Lord George Frederick Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck , better known as simply Lord George Bentinck, was an English Conservative politician and racehorse owner, best known for his role in unseating Sir Robert Peel over the Corn Laws.Bentinck was a younger son of the 4th Duke of Portland, and elected a...
. After Gregory failed to retain his seat in the 1847 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1847
-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 *...
, he took up residence at the family estate at Coole Park
Coole Park
Coole Park is a nature reserve of approximately operated by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service and is located a few miles west of Gort, County Galway, Ireland. The park contains extensive woodlands and a series of turloughs with 6 kilometres of signposted nature trails plus a formal...
in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. He was appointed High Sheriff of County Galway in 1849.
Gregory traveled to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1855 and wrote a two-volume work on his travels, Egypt in 1855 and 1856, and Tunis in 1857 and 1858, published privately in London in 1859. In the 1857
United Kingdom general election, 1857
-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 *...
he was returned to parliament for the County Galway
Galway County (UK Parliament constituency)
The UK Parliament constituency of County Galway was an historic Irish constituency, comprised the whole of County Galway, except for the Borough of Galway. It replaced the pre-Act of Union Parliament of Ireland constituency...
on a liberal-conservative platform. In 1859 he travelled through North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, befriending several southern Congressmen, including James Murray Mason of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and William Porcher Miles
William Porcher Miles
William Porcher Miles was among the ardent States' Rights advocates, supporters of slavery, and Southern secessionists who came to be known as the "Fire-Eaters." Born in South Carolina, he showed little early interest in politics and his early career included the study of law and a tenure as a...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Throughout the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Gregory was an avid supporter of the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. He also argued that Britain should pursue strong anti-Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
policy and supported the cession of the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
and Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In domestic affairs Gregory was active in defending the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland and working for land reform. His interest in the arts led to a long association with the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
On 10 July 1871 he was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
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...
and in the following year Gregory was appointed Governor of Ceylon. He hosted the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
in 1875, at which time he was presented with the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Gregory retired from office in 1877 and returned to England via Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He did not return to political office after 1877 and spent most of the following years travelling. From October 1881 to April 1882, he toured Egypt and reported on the revolution there. Gregory returned to Ceylon in 1884 and 1885.
In Dublin, Gregory was a member of the Kildare Street Club
Kildare Street Club
The Kildare Street Club was a gentlemen's club in Dublin, Ireland, at the heart of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy.The Club remained in Kildare Street between 1782 and 1977, when it merged with the Dublin University Club...
.
Gregory was addicted to horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, which led to financial difficulties throughout his life. He remained fond of classical languages and literature and always took an interest in artistic affairs.
Gregory married twice. On 11 January 1872 he married Elizabeth Temple Bowdoin, (d. 28 June 1873) widow of James Temple Bowdoin and daughter of Sir William Clay. On 4 March 1880 Gregory married Isabelle Augusta Gregory. Their son, William Robert Gregory, was born on 20 May 1881.
Gregory died on 6 March 1892 of respiratory failure
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
in London. His autobiography was edited and published by Lady Gregory in 1894.