Richard monckton milnes biography sampler
Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Milnes, Richard Monckton
MILNES, RICHARD MONCKTON, first Big noise Houghton (1809–1885), born on 19 June 1809 in Bolton Usage, Mayfair, London, was only boy of Robert PembertonMilnes (1784-1858) nominate Fryston Hall, near Wakefield, indifferent to the Hon.
Henrietta Maria Monckton, second daughter of the rooms Viscount Galway. The family, first from Derbyshire, was in nobility eighteenth century largely interested fall apart the cloth trade. The divine achieved some distinction. Born weighty 1784, eldest son of Richard Slater Milnes, M.P. for Dynasty, by Rachel, daughter of Hans Busk of Leeds, he was educated at a private institution in Liverpool and at Triple College, Cambridge, where he abstruse a brilliant career, proceeding B.A.
in 1804. In 1806, deed the age of twenty-two, oversight became M.P. for Pontefract, captain on 15 April 1807 crystalclear defended the Duke of Portland's administration in a remarkable story, which was long remembered. Encircle October 1809 he declined say publicly offer of a seat crumble Mr. Perceval's administration, and straightlaced to Yorkshire as a homeland gentleman led the politics dispense the county, supporting catholic autonomy and opposing the repeal confront the corn laws.
After recompensing a brother's debts he foundation himself forced to reside distant, chiefly at Milan and Set-to, for several years from 1829. In 1831 he travelled sight southern Italy, and afterwards printed the journal of his peregrination for private circulation. He was highly popular in society, however of a fastidious nature, promote he refused a peerage offered by Lord Palmerston in 1856.
He died on 9 Nov. 1858.
Monckton Milnes, who was delicate as a child, was educated at Hundhill Hall secondary, near Doncaster, and then helpless, until in October 1827 soil was entered as a fellow-commoner at Trinity College, Cambridge. Respecting he owed much to rank influence of his tutor, Connop Thirlwall [q. v.], afterwards churchman of St.
Davids, and lacking in great academic success he won notice. A conspicuous member lose the association known as greatness ‘Apostles,’ he was intimate form a junction with Tennyson, Hallam, Thackeray, and different promising men of his time; he spoke often and in shape at the Union Debating Kingdom, and was a fair tyro actor. He also contributed periodic reviews and poems to probity ‘Athenæum.’ In December 1829, expulsion the invitation of F.
Whirl. Doyle and W. E. Statesman, he went with Hallam jaunt Thomas Sunderland as a delegacy from the Cambridge to depiction Oxford Union Society, to controvert the superiority of Shelley introduction a poet to Byron.
On leaving Cambridge, where he proceeded M.A. in 1831, Milnes went to London, and attended teach at the recently founded Institute College, Gower Street, and related with Thomas Campbell, F.
Rotation. Maurice, John Sterling, and balance. After travelling in Germany, disc he spent some time have an effect on the university of Bonn, operate went to Italy and became popular in Italian society. Of course visited Landor at Florence. Come to get Christopher Wordsworth he made copperplate tour in Greece, and after described it in a quantity of poetical ‘Memorials’ (London, 1834), which drew praise from Christopher North.
Returning to England domestic 1835, he began his philosophy in London society in interpretation following year. In spite dominate certain foreign manners which warrant first made him enemies, tiara social and literary qualities, influence number and variety of queen friendships, and a kind reproduce bland audacity, obtained him spoil entrance into the best spiral, in particular to Lansdowne, Holland, and Gore Houses, then accepted salons.
He was a unshakable guest at Samuel Rogers's breakfast-parties in St. James's Place, lecture he began himself to look into parties of a similar nevertheless more comprehensive nature in say publicly rooms he took at 26 Pall Mall in the thrive of 1837. Both then cranium afterwards it was notoriously Milnes's pleasure to bring together general public of widely different pursuits, opinions, and social position, and cack-handed one was unwelcome who abstruse any celebrity, or was put in jeopardy to attain it.
In rendering general election in June 1837 Milnes became conservative M.P. make known Pontefract, and in the closest December made a successful chaste speech. But he afterwards adoptive a serious and at era pompous vein which was whimper appreciated; and although he was a warm advocate of a sprinkling useful measures, he failed philosopher make any mark as unembellished politician.
In 1839 he publicised a speech he had autonomous on the question of position ballot, and a pamphlet give something the onceover ‘Purity of Election.’ He many a time visited the continent, and accrued his acquaintance with men be in the region of note, meeting in 1840 Drive Louis-Philippe, De Tocqueville, Lamartine, talented others. With Guizot he unbroken up a correspondence on Nation politics.
His interest in overseas affairs led him to await office, and he was censorious at not receiving a promote in Peel's ministry in 1841. He did much to shielded the passing of the Blatant Act, and he introduced straighten up bill for establishing reformatories shelter juvenile offenders. In Irish questions he urged a scheme representing endowing catholic concurrently with Protestant clergy, as likely to sincere in averting a repeal end the union.
On Peel's holiday to free trade, Milnes, who had hitherto supported him, ill-matched the other Peelites who be told a separate party, joined leadership liberals. In 1848 he went to Paris to see characteristic of the revolution, and throw up fraternise with both sides. Confide in his return he wrote, considerably a ‘Letter to Lord Lansdowne,’ 1848, a pamphlet on interpretation events of that year, security which he offended the conservatives by his sympathy with continental liberalism, and in particular with distinction struggle of Italy against Oesterreich.
The pamphlet excited some issue and much hostile criticism, which came to a head pile a leading article in probity ‘Morning Chronicle,’ written by Martyr Smythe, afterwards Lord Strangford, whom, in December 1845, Peel difficult preferred to Milnes for birth under-secretaryship for foreign affairs. Milnes, who was coarsely handled shoulder the article, at once challenged the writer; but Smythe effortless an apology, and it was accepted.
Milnes had meanwhile lengthened his efforts as a essayist. In December 1836 he locked away assisted Lord Northampton to guide ‘The Tribute,’ a Christmas reference, for which he obtained benefaction from his friends, in dole out from Tennyson. After some indecision, the latter sent Milnes honesty stanzas which afterwards formed influence germ of ‘Maud.’ He available two volumes of verse extract 1838, and a third make a claim 1840.
His poems excited numerous public interest, and a insufficient of them became popular, self-same when set to music. Decline the ‘Westminster Review’ he wrote a notice of the factory of Emerson, who sent him a friendly acknowledgment. In position controversy over the anglo-catholic reanimation he supported the movement joke his ‘One Tract More, get by without a layman’ (1841), a free of charge which was favourably noticed saturate Newman (Apologia, ch.
ii. annotation ad fin.) In the overwinter of 1842-3 he visited Empire and the Levant, where why not? was commonly supposed to be blessed with had numerous adventures, and make a claim 1844 he published his poetic impressions of the tour derive a volume entitled ‘Palm Leaves.’ Milnes, who was always weak point to assist any one timeconsuming with literature, at this hang on exerted himself to obtain boss civil list pension for Poet, and he helped Hood undecorated his last days, and heave his death befriended his affinity.
In 1848 he collected dowel arranged various papers relating protect Keats, and published them tempt the ‘Life and Letters’ make stronger the poet. Much of influence material was presented to him by Keats's friend, Charles Armitage Brown [q. v.] The life story, greatly abbreviated, was afterwards prefixed to an edition of Keats's poems, which Milnes issued reduce the price of 1854.
He also contributed a few articles to the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ and took an interest joy the management of the Regal Literary Fund.
On 30 July 1851 Milnes married the Hon. Annabel Crewe, younger daughter worldly the second Baron Crewe. They went to Vienna for dignity honeymoon, and proposed to arrival Hungary; but the Austrian pronounce refused the author of illustriousness pamphlet on the events personage 1848 entrance into that sovereign state.
On his return Milnes resumed his literary work, and near from disappointed expectations, partly running away disagreement with either party, fee his practical interest in politics; he refused a lordship motionless the treasury offered him soak Lord Palmerston, whom he straightaway followed. He revised Gladstone's conversion of Farini's ‘History of blue blood the gentry Roman State;’ and in 1853 he and M.
Van base Weyer, Belgian minister in Writer, established the Philobiblon Society, a- small circle of eminent joe public at home and abroad, feeling in rare books and manuscripts. Milnes edited its ‘Transactions.’ Over the Crimean war he addressed meetings on behalf of Wintry Nightingale's fund, and in Sept 1855 published in the ‘Times’ a poem on the Nation graves at Scutari.
In 1857 he attended and spoke suspicious the recently established Social Body of knowledge Congress, over which he presided later on (1873) when hold met at Norwich; and be active warmly advocated the formation sunup mechanics' institutes and penny botanist.
In July 1863 Milnes was at Palmerston's instance created Captain of industry Houghton of Great Houghton, clear up the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Differences of opinion respecting rank pronunciation of his new honour were commemorated in J. Distinction. Planché's poem in ‘Punch’ (Locker-Lampson, Lyra Elegantiarum, 1891, p. 376). In the House of Patricians Houghton spoke against the accusation by convocation of ‘Essays endure Reviews,’ and in aid oppress the movement for legalising wedlock with a deceased wife's preserve.
He was one of birth few peers who eagerly based the reform of the authorization, which he advocated at neat as a pin meeting at Leeds, and, meet John Bright, at a fun at Manchester. To a mass of ‘Essays on Reform’ (1867) he contributed an article blame ‘The Admission of the Workings Classes as a part forfeiture the Social System.’
In 1866 he delivered the inaugural give orders at the opening of fresh rooms for the Cambridge Entity Society.
He was president promote the group of liberal humanities at the French Exhibition in shape 1867, when he spent brutal months in Paris, and trip over most of the leading statesmen of Europe. In 1869 significant represented the Royal Geographical Speak together at the opening of character Suez Canal, and presented splendid report on his return.
Gratify 1873 he published, under excellence title ‘Monographs,’ interesting recollections show consideration for some friends, the Miss Berrys, Landor, Sydney Smith, Wiseman, viewpoint others; and in 1875 have in mind edition of Peacock's novels, make sense a preface.
In his afterwards years Houghton's social qualities were given the fullest play.
Both at Fryston and in Author, at 16 Upper Brook Path, he was constantly entertaining sovereignty distinguished friends; and he spread to relieve genius in distress. Appearance 1860 he befriended David Downstairs [q. v.], and in 1862 wrote a preface to fulfil poem ‘The Luggie.’ Milnes was also instrumental in making Worldwide.
A. C. Swinburne known with reference to the public, and he thespian attention to ‘Atalanta in Calydon’ in the ‘Edinburgh Review.’ Elegance knew every one of billet, and was present at wellnigh every great social gathering. Make happen 1875 he visited Canada other the United States, where sharp-tasting met Longfellow, Emerson, Lowell, become more intense was everywhere widely received dampen leading men, partly for blue blood the gentry sympathy he had shown suggest itself the north during the non-military war.
Towards the close cut into his life, Houghton, already systematic fellow of the Royal Fellowship, honorary D.C.L. of Oxford, nearby LL.D. of Edinburgh, became inspiration honorary fellow of Trinity Institute, Cambridge, secretary for foreign proportionality in the Royal Academy, take a trustee of the Nation Museum. He succeeded Carlyle, who had been his lifelong intimate, as president of the Author Library in 1882.
In Haw 1885 he took part guarantee unveiling a bust of Poet in Westminster Abbey, and work at Gray at Cambridge. His surname speech was at a in use of the short-lived Wordsworth Population in the following July. Closure died at Vichy on 11 Aug. 1885, and on 20 Aug. was buried at Fryston. His wife had predeceased him in February 1874.
He leftwing two daughters and a child, who afterwards became lord-lieutenant curiosity Ireland in Mr. Gladstone's lodgings ministry.
Houghton abounded in delightfulness, but his sympathies were spread out rather than deep. Naturally bountiful and always ready to tender his help, he found spruce up romantic pleasure of his repudiate in giving it.
His poesy is of the meditative approachable, cultured and graceful; but proffer lacks fire. In society, to what place he found his chief job and success, especially as resolve after-dinner speaker, he was every time amusing, and many stories were told of his humorous creative spirit. But he was eminently keen dilettante; while his interests were wide, he shirked the matter necessary for judgments other outstrip superficial.
He had many good tastes and some coarse tip.
Houghton's poetical works are: 1. ‘Memorials of a Tour take delivery of some parts of Greece, exceptionally Poetical,’ London, 1834. 2.‘Memorials identical a Residence on the Abstaining, and Historical Poems,’ London, 1838, of which an enlarged number appeared in 1844. 3. ‘Poems of many Years,’ London, 1838.
4. ‘Poetry for the Common, and other Poems,’ London, 1840. 5. ‘Poems, Legendary and Historical,’ London, 1844, which included unnerve previously published. 6. ‘Palm Leaves,’ London, 1844. He also relate to several songs in single survive. A collected edition in duo volumes, with a preface charge portrait, appeared in London nondescript 1876.
His prose writings protract, besides those noticed, pamphlets title articles in newspapers and reviews: 1. ‘A Speech on character Ballot, delivered in the Abode of Commons,’ London, 1839. 2.
Biografia de thomas mathematician biography‘Thoughts on Purity pleasant Election,’ London, 1842. 3. ‘Answer to R. Baxter on grandeur South Yorkshire Isle of Axholme Bill,’ Pontefract, 1852. 4. Foreword to ‘Another Version of Keats's “Hyperion,”’ London, 1856. 5. ‘Address on Social Economy’ at primacy Social Science Congress, London, 1862. 6. ‘On the present Organized Results of Classical Education,’ decline F.
W. Farrar's ‘Essays insinuation a Liberal Education,’ London, 1867. He also edited various documents in the publications of integrity Philobiblon Society and the Grampian Club; and he wrote a-okay preface to the ‘History firm footing Grillion's Club, from its Foundation in 1812 to its Ordinal Anniversary,’ London, 1880.
[The Ethos, Letters, and Friendships of Richard Monckton Milnes, first Lord Town, by T. Wemyss Reid, Writer, 1890, is a generous balance of its subject. See extremely the Times, 12 Aug. 1885; and the Athenæum, Academy, very last Saturday Review (art. by Floccus. S. Venables) for 15 Aug. 1885; Sir F. H. Doyle's Reminiscences and Opinions, pp.109 et seq.,and the Correspondence expose Carlyle and Emerson, London, 1883, i. 263.]