LEWIS, Sir GEORGE CORNEWALL (1806 - 1863), statesman

Name: George Cornewall Lewis
Date of birth: 1806
Date of death: 1863
Parent: Thomas Frankland Lewis
Gender: Male
Occupation: statesman
Area of activity: Politics, Government and Political Movements
Author: David Williams

Born in London, 21 April 1806, the elder son of Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the Bar in 1831. He acted on various Government commissions of enquiry, and, in 1839, succeeded his father as Poor Law commissioner. He was largely responsible for the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1841. When the Poor Law Board was established in 1847 (a step of which he approved), his office lapsed. He immediately entered Parliament as M.P. for Herefordshire in 1847 (and held three minor offices), but he lost his seat in 1852. He then became editor of The Edinburgh Review (1852-5). On his father's death he succeeded him as M.P. for Radnor boroughs, and at once became chancellor of the exchequer in Palmerston's first administration (1855-8). In Palmerston's second administration (1859-65) he was successively home secretary and secretary of State for war. He died at Harpton Court on 13 April 1863, aged 56. His numerous writings are fully listed in D.N.B. Walter Bagehot spoke of his career as ' the most rapid political rise of our time.'

Author

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/

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