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The Earl of Carlisle | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byGeorge Romney | |
| First Lord of Trade | |
| In office 6 November 1779 – 9 December 1780 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Lord North |
| Preceded by | Lord George Sackville-Germain |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Grantham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 May 1748 |
| Died | 4 September 1825(1825-09-04) (aged 77) |
| Spouse | Lady Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower |
| Children | 10 |
| Parent(s) | Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle Isabella Byron |
Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle (28 May 1748 – 4 September 1825) was a British statesman, diplomat and author.[1]
He was the son ofHenry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle and his second wifeIsabella Byron. His mother was a daughter ofWilliam Byron, 4th Baron Byron and his wifeFrances Berkeley, a descendant ofJohn Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton. She was also a sister ofWilliam Byron, 5th Baron Byron and a great-aunt ofGeorge Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, the poet. In 1798, Carlisle was appointed guardian to Lord Byron who later lampooned him inEnglish Bards and Scotch Reviewers.[2]
During his youth Carlisle was mentored byGeorge Selwyn and was chiefly known as a man of pleasure and fashion. He was created aKnight of the Thistle in 1767, and entered theHouse of Lords in 1770. After he had reached thirty years of age, his appointment on aCommission sent out byFrederick North, Lord North, to attempt a reconciliation with theThirteen Colonies during theAmerican War of Independence was received with sneers by the opposition. The failure of the embassy was not due to any incapacity on the part of the earl, but to the unpopularity of the government from which it received its authority. He was considered to have displayed so much ability that he was entrusted with the viceroyalty ofIreland in 1780.[2][3]
The time was one of the greatest difficulty; for while the calm of the country was disturbed by theAmerican War of Independence, it was drained of regular troops, and large bands of volunteers not under the control of the government had been formed. Nevertheless, the two years of Carlisle's rule passed in quietness and prosperity, and the institution of a national bank and other measures which he effected left permanently beneficial results upon the commerce of the island. In 1789, in the discussions as to the regency, Carlisle took a prominent part on the side of theprince of Wales.[2]
In 1791 he opposedWilliam Pitt the Younger's policy of resistance to the dismemberment of theOttoman Empire by theRussian Empire; but on the outbreak of theFrench Revolution he left the opposition and vigorously maintained the cause of war. He resigned from theOrder of the Thistle and was created aKnight of the Garter in 1793. In 1815 he opposed the enactment of theCorn Laws; but from this time till his death, he took no important part in public life.[2][4]
In 1798 he was one of the syndicate who bought theOrleans Collection of paintings, many of his share of which were housed inCastle Howard, where some remain.[5]
On 22 March 1770, Frederick married Lady Margaret CarolineLeveson-Gower (died 27 January 1824), daughter ofGranville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford and his wife, Lady LouisaEgerton, herself the daughter ofScroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgewater.[4]
They had ten children:
The 5th Earl was also reputedly thenatural father ofHoward Staunton (1810–1874), an English chess master regarded as having been the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851, according to information "gleaned" by chess historianH. J. R. Murray from various sources, although record of Staunton's birth or baptism has never been found.
Carlisle was the author of some political tracts, a number of poems, and two tragedies:
Attributions
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Treasurer of the Household 1777–1779 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | First Lord of Trade 1779–1780 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1780–1782 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lord Steward 1782–1783 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lord Privy Seal 1783 | |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire 1780–1782 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire 1799–1807 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by | Earl of Carlisle 1758–1825 | Succeeded by |
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