Statesman; born in
London,
England, in 1836; educated at the University College School, in
London: and was mayor of
Birmingham
[
85]
in 1870-75.
He was elected to Parliament from
Birmingham as a Liberal Unionist in 1875, and has since held his seat; was president of the Board of Trade in
1880-85; president of the Local Government Board in 1886; one of the
British commissioners to settle the
North American fisheries dispute in 1887, and lord rector of Glasgow University.
In 1895 he became
Secretary of State for the Colonies, and has since held the post.
During 1898, and especially when the international troubles concerning
China were thickening, he made several notable speeches, voicing a widespread sentiment in
Great Britain that there should be a closer understanding between the
United States and
Great Britain touching their various commercial interests.
In 1888 he married Mary, daughter of
William C. Endicott,
Secretary of War in
President Cleveland's first administration.
