Jonathan Peel

Jonathan Peel, PC (12 October 1799 – 13 February 1879) was a British soldier, Conservative politician and racehorse owner.


Jonathan Peel
Secretary of State for War
In office
26 February 1858  11 June 1859
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Derby
Preceded byThe Lord Panmure
Succeeded byThe Lord Herbert of Lea
In office
6 July 1866  8 March 1867
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Derby
Preceded byThe Marquess of Hartington
Succeeded bySir John Pakington, Bt
Personal details
Born(1799-10-12)12 October 1799
Died13 February 1879(1879-02-13) (aged 79)
Marble Hill, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Lady Alice Kennedy (d. 1887)

Background and education

Peel was the fifth son of Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet, and his first wife Ellen (née Yates), and the younger brother of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Rugby.[1][2]

Military career

Peel was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1815. His later steady rise through the ranks was obtained by purchase. Peel served as a lieutenant in the 71st Highlanders from 1819–21 and in the Grenadier Guards from 1822 to 1825, as a Major in the 69th Foot from 1826 to 1827, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 53rd Foot in 1827, when he was placed on half-pay. He was promoted to brevet Colonel in 1841, to Major-General in 1854 and to Lieutenant-General in 1859.

Political career

Peel's political career started when he was elected Member of Parliament for Norwich in 1826. He lost this seat in 1830 but returned to Parliament the following year as one of two representatives for Huntingdon, a seat he held until 1868.

He served under his brother as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance from 1841–46 and was Secretary of State for War (with a seat in the cabinet) under the Earl of Derby between 1858 and 1859 and 1866 and 1867. In the latter office he was considered competent and successful and became very popular. However, he resigned in March 1867 in protest against the proposed electoral reforms. He had been admitted to the Privy Council in 1858.

Racing

Apart from his military and political career Peel was also an owner of racehorses, and in 1844 his horse Orlando won the Derby, after another horse, Running Rein, had been disqualified.

Personal life

Lady Alice Jane Peel by James Thomson (Thompson), after Mary Green (née Byrne), 1833[3]

Peel married, on 19 March 1824, Lady Alice Jane, youngest daughter of Archibald Kennedy, first Marquis of Ailsa, by whom he had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Their second son, Edmund Yates Peel, became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army. Their fourth son, John Peel, achieved the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Army. Their second daughter Alice married the diplomat Sir Robert Morier. Their youngest daughter, Adelaide Georgiana, married Michael Biddulph, 1st Baron Biddulph.

Death

He died on 13 February 1879, aged 79, at his home, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, Middlesex, and was buried in Twickenham new cemetery on 19 February. His widow died in 1887.

See also

References

  1. Rugby School Register, vol.1. Rugby: A J Lawrence, 1881. pp.112,305
  2. "Lt.-Gen. Rt. Hon. Jonathan Peel, MP". Geni.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  3. Mary Green, National Portrait Gallery

Sources

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Smith
Richard Hanbury Gurney
Member of Parliament for Norwich
1826–1830
With: William Smith
Succeeded by
Richard Hanbury Gurney
Robert Grant
Preceded by
John Calvert
James Stuart
Member of Parliament for Huntingdon
1831 – 1868
With: Sir Frederick Pollock, Bt 1831–1844
Thomas Baring 1844–1868
Succeeded by
Thomas Baring
Political offices
Preceded by
Charles Richard Fox
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
1841–1846
Succeeded by
Charles Richard Fox
Preceded by
The Lord Panmure
Secretary of State for War
1858–1859
Succeeded by
Sidney Herbert
Preceded by
Marquess of Hartington
Secretary of State for War
1866–1867
Succeeded by
Sir John Pakington, Bt.
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