On This Day

04 April 1818

Birth of Hugh Fortescue, 3rd Earl Fortescue, private secretary to Lord Melbourne

Fortescue was MP for Plymouth 1841-45 and Marylebone 1854-59. He supported free trade and repeal of the Corn Law as well as social reform and public works. Though talented he was not given office under Aberdeen or Palmerston and while remaining a moderate reformer drifted away from the Liberals on Ireland and the Eastern Question. He refused to become a Conservative however saying, ‘I am not yet revolutionary enough for that.’ He died on 10 October 1905.