Richard EveFRGS (6 December 1831–7 July 1900) was asolicitor andnotary inAldershot inHampshire in the 19th century and a prominentFreemason who was the Grand Treasurer of theUnited Grand Lodge of England in 1889,[1] and the Chairman of theRoyal Masonic School for Boys.[2] He defendedAhmed ‘Urabi (Arabi Pascha) inCairo when he was tried by the restoredKhedivate on 3 December 1882 following the‘Urabi Revolt which had led to theAnglo-Egyptian War.
Eve was born in Bromsgrove Street inKidderminster, the youngest son of Ann and John Eve,[3] the foreman in a local carpet factory. After leaving school Eve wasarticled to asolicitors' office inLeamington Spa in 1846; here he was initiated into Guy’s Lodge No. 556 (now No. 395) in 1854, becoming Master of the lodge in 1861. He joined Brecknock Lodge No. 936 (now No. 651) inBrecon inWales in 1861 during a short period there. He set up his own small solicitor's office inAldershot at the time theBritish Army was rapidly expanding its presence in the area. Here he joined Panmure Lodge No 723. Over the next 15 years his Aldershot legal practice expanded greatly and he became a prominent local citizen, entering politics and serving on various local authorities and becoming Lord of the Manor ofFarnborough inHampshire[2][4] and a County Councillor for Hampshire.[5]
He defendedAhmed ‘Urabi (Arabi Pascha) inCairo when he was tried by the restoredKhedivate on 3 December 1882 following the‘Urabi Revolt which had led to theAnglo-Egyptian War.[5][6][7] Eve stood unsuccessfully as aLiberal candidate forParliament five times, twice contesting theKidderminster Constituency in 1892 and 1895.[4] At the same time he further developed his interest inFreemasonry, joining the Grand Master’s Lodge No. 1 in London in 1884. Eve was appointed as Treasurer ofSupreme Grand Chapter in 1887 and Grand Treasurer of theUnited Grand Lodge of England in 1889.[2][4]
Eve was Chairman of theRoyal Masonic School for Boys management board from 1891 until his death in 1900. In 1899 a Lodge was formed which was linked to the Boys’ School; it was named Richard Eve Lodge (No. 2772) in his honour.[8] A history of the Lodge states that it "had its origin in the wish of many admirers of Richard Eve to perpetuate his name as a worthy citizen of London and as a sterling worker in the Masonic cause."[2]
Richard Eve was taken ill in London where he had gone for the laying of a foundation stone for the Boys’ School, and died at 11 Nottingham Place inMarylebone of a seizure a few days later on 7 July 1900. He was buried inAldershot Cemetery where a large granite memorial of the figure ofCharity and a child adorns his grave.[4][9] He never married, and his estate of £34,199 6s 8d was left to fellow solicitors and the Cottage Hospital in Aldershot.[10][11]
TheMasonic funeral was reported inThe Freemason on 21 July 1900.
“Bro Eve had found in life manifold points of sympathetic contact with his fellows and on this day his friends rose up from all parts of England to pay a last tribute of respect to his memory... It was a solemn and inspiring sight – this long procession of black-coated men. The great body of Masons marched in twos in front of the carriage. There were about 100 of them, all wearing the customary white gloves and carrying their sprigs of acacia.”[12]
A 29 foot tall monumental drinking fountain to Eve's memory was unveiled in Brinton Park inKidderminster in 1902. This was raised by "Admiring friends to keep his memory green in his native town which he ardently loved." The monument is faced with glazedDoulton tiles in green, terracotta and bronze and a portrait of Eve in profile.[2][13]