On This Day

07 February 1863

Burial at his family home, Bowood House, of the great Whig politician Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne

Lansdowne was the son of Whig Prime Minister the Earl of Shelburne. He held many high offices of state, including Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary and was joint leader of the Whigs with Lord John Russell from 1842-55. By coincidence he also won a by-election on 7 February. He took the Cambridge University seat in 1806 in a three-way contest when one of his opponents was Lord Palmerston.