- William Henry Gregory
Sir William Henry Gregory (
July 12 1817 –March 6 1892 ) was anAnglo-Irish writer and politician.The only child of Robert Gregory and Elizabeth O'Hara Gregory, he was born at the Castle, in Dublin's
Phoenix Park . From 1830 to 1835 he attended Harrow, where he was an award-winning student. He subsequently enteredChrist Church, Oxford in 1836 but left three years later without receiving a qualification.Gregory was elected to the
British House of Commons in an 1842 by-election as a Conservative member for Dublin. Among his close associates wereSir Robert Peel , Lord Lincoln, andLord George Bentick . After Gregory failed to retain his seat in the 1847 general election, he took up residence at the family estate atCoole Park inCounty Galway . He was appointedHigh Sheriff of Galway in 1849.Gregory traveled to
Egypt in 1855 and wrote a two-volume work on his travels, "Egypt in 1855 and 1856, and Tunis in 1857 and 1858", published privately in London in 1859. In the 1857 he was returned to parliament for the County Galway on a liberal-conservative platform. In 1859 he travelled throughNorth America , befriending several southern Congressmen, includingJames Murray Mason ofVirginia andWilliam Porcher Miles ofSouth Carolina .Throughout the
American Civil War Gregory was an avid supporter of the Confederacy. He also argued that Britain should pursue strong anti-Turkish policy and supported the cession of theIonian Islands andCrete toGreece . In domestic affairs Gregory was active in defending theRoman Catholic clergy in Ireland and working for land reform. His interest in the arts led to a long association with theBritish Museum .On
10 July 1871 he was made a member of thePrivy Council of Ireland .In 1872 Gregory was appointed
Governor-General of Ceylon . He hosted thePrince of Wales in 1875, at which time he was presented with theOrder of St. Michael and St. George . Gregory retired from office in 1877 and returned to England viaAustralia . He did not return to political office after 1877 and spent most of the following years travelling. From October 1881 to April 1882, he toured Egypt and reported on the revolution there. Gregory returned to Ceylon in 1884 and 1885.Gregory was addicted to
horse racing , which led to financial difficulties throughout his life. He remained fond of classical languages and literature and always took an interest in artistic affairs.Gregory married twice. On
January 11 1872 he married Elizabeth Temple Bowdoin, (d.June 28 1873 ) widow of James Temple Bowdoin and daughter ofSir William Clay . OnMarch 4 1880 Gregory marriedIsabelle Augusta Gregory . Their son,William Robert Gregory , was born on20 May 1881 .Gregory died on
March 6 1892 ofrespiratory failure in London. His autobiography was edited and published by Lady Gregory in 1894.ources
* Brian Jenkins, "Sir William Gregory of Coole". Gerald's Cross, 1986
* Lady Gregory, "70 Years 1852-1922". Gerard's Cross, 1973.
* "Dictionary of National Biography", pp. 355-57.
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