William Denison, 1st Earl of Londesborough

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The Earl of Londesborough
Member of Parliament for Scarborough
In office
1859–1860
Preceded bySir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone
John Dent
Succeeded bySir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone
John Dent
Member of Parliament for Beverley
In office
1857–1859
Serving with Edward Glover (1857)
Sir Henry Edwards (1857–1859)
Preceded byWilliam Wells
Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
Succeeded bySir Henry Edwards
Ralph Walters
Personal details
Born
William Henry Forester Denison

(1834-06-19)19 June 1834
Died19 April 1900(1900-04-19) (aged 65)
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Lady Edith Frances Wilhelmina Somerset
(m. 1863)
RelationsHenry Conyngham, 1st Marquess Conyngham (grandfather)
Children5
Parent(s)Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough
Henrietta Mary Weld-Forester

William Henry Forester Denison, 1st Earl of Londesborough (19 June 1834 – 19 April 1900), known as The Lord Londesborough from 1860 to 1887, was a British peer and Liberal politician. He was also one of the main founders of Scarborough FC.[1]

Early life[edit]

Londesborough was born on 19 June 1834, the eldest son and heir of Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough, and Henrietta Mary Weld-Forester.[2] Among his siblings was Rear Admiral Albert Denison Somerville Denison (1835–1903).[2]

His paternal grandfather was Henry Conyngham, 1st Marquess Conyngham (his father being the fourth son of the Marquess).[2] His mother was the fourth daughter of Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester, and Lady Katharine Mary Manners (second daughter of Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland).[3]

Career[edit]

Londesborough as pictured in Vanity Fair, 19 October 1878

He was elected to the House of Commons for Beverley in 1857, a seat he held until 1859, and then represented Scarborough from 1859 to 1860 when he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords.

Londesborough was the first President of the British Goat Society, established in 1869,[4] and was also Worshipful Master of the Constitutional Lodge No. 294 in Beverley.[5]

In 1871, Londesborough entertained the Prince of Wales at his villa Londesborough Lodge at Scarborough. In 1887, he was created Viscount Raincliffe, of Raincliffe in the North Riding of the County of York, and Earl of Londesborough, in the County of York. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 4th East Riding Artillery Volunteer Corps on 11 August 1860 and of the 1st Yorkshire (East Riding) Rifle Volunteer Corps (later 1st Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment) on 24 April 1862. The Volunteers' drill hall in Hull was named Londesborough Barracks in his honour. On 9 September 1893 he transferred from the 1st Battalion to become Honorary Colonel of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.[6][7]

The 'Londesborough Theatre' (1871-1960) was named in his honour. Both Raincliffe Woods, and the former Raincliffe School, were also named after the title bestowed on him in 1887.

Personal life[edit]

In 1863, Lord Londesborough married Lady Edith Frances Wilhelmina Somerset, a daughter of Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort.[8] Together, they were the parents of:[3]

Lord Londesborough died in April 1900, aged 65, and was succeeded in his titles by his son William. His widow, Lady Londesborough, died in 1915.[11]

Arms[edit]

Arms

Londesborough's arms are blazoned Ermine, a bend azure cotised sable between a unicorn's head erased in chief and a cross crosslet fitchée in base gules[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Adamson, Steve (1998). Scarborough F.C. - 1879-1998: The Official History (pg. 6). Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-92-5.
  2. ^ a b c "Londesborough, Baron (UK, 1850)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Londesborough, Earl of (UK, 1887 - 1937)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  4. ^ "The Early Years" (PDF). The British Goat Society. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ Lundy, Darryl. "p. 4950 § 49499". The Peerage.[unreliable source]
  6. ^ Burke's.
  7. ^ Army List.
  8. ^ Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
  9. ^ Pearson, John. Facades, Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell (1978)
  10. ^ Smithsonian Institution
  11. ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 100th Edn, London, 1953.
  12. ^ Montague-Smith, P.W. (ed.), Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage, Kelly's Directories Ltd, Kingston-upon-Thames, 1968, p.700, Baron Londesborough

External links[edit]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Beverley
18571859
With: Edward Glover 1857
Sir Henry Edwards 1857–1859
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Scarborough
1859 – 1860
With: Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Earl of Londesborough
1887–1900
Succeeded by
Preceded by Baron Londesborough
1860–1900