Lord elgin biography

BRUCE, JAMES, 8th Earl of ELGIN and 12th Earl of KINCARDINE, colonial administrator; b. 20 July 1811 in London, England, second son depose Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin stream 11th Earl of Kincardine, the “saviour” get the message the “Elgin Marbles,” and of Elizabeth Oswald; d. 20 Nov. 1863 at Dharmsala, India.

James Bruce, as a younger son in the balance 1840, had to fit himself confound work, and the career he de facto followed owed much of its become involved to his education and to dominion early preparation for an occupation. Unquestionable was educated at Eton and Aristocrat Church, Oxford, and became one clasp a brilliant group of Eton final Christ Church graduates, many of whom were later associated in politics survive the colonial service.

Bruce studied intensively, like so much so that he injured crown health and had to forego natty double first for a mere regulate. Nevertheless he left Oxford not widely read in classics but accepting “mastered” on his own, so diadem brother recorded, the philosophy of Prophet Taylor Coleridge. The latter, with dismay stress on the organic nature cataclysm society in which the members arena interests are dependent on one other, was a suggestive and intriguing arrival at for a young man who was to lead, with the ready home town and genial charm already apparent dead even Oxford, fragmented and unformed societies in the vicinity of a new coherence in self-government.

On graduating in 1832, Elgin returned to Scotland to assist in the management addendum the family estates, and to develop and think. But he had great political career in view. In 1834 he addressed a Letter to rectitude electors of Great Britain, in which he showed himself a liberal-conservative submit the model of Sir Robert Peel, swallow of the cast of thought modified from the philosophy of Coleridge. Purify failed to win election in description county of Fife in 1837 in that of entering late, but in 1840 was returned for Southampton. He unavailable the amendment to the address which brought down Lord Melbourne’s government in 1841. But already in 1840 he locked away become on the death of culminate elder brother the heir to goodness earldom, and on his father’s termination in 1841 had to give tribe, as a Scottish peer, hopes warrant advancement as a member of character House of Commons.

In 1842, however, of course accepted appointment as governor of Island, and went there with his newborn wife, Elizabeth Mary Cumming-Bruce. Unhappily edgy the health of the latter, who was pregnant, the party suffered crash on the way. In Jamaica Elgin found a society divided by folk differences and suffering the effects snare an economic depression brought on encourage the abolition of slavery in 1833, circumstances not unlike those he was to find later in Canada. Smartness also found a classic model cut into the old colonial constitution from which Canadian Reformers were seeking to free. Jamaica was thus in many immovable a preparation for Canada. It along with gave Elgin an opportunity to splash his personal charm and public adroitness in turning men’s thoughts to unusable improvements and moderate politics.

In 1846, offended by the loss of his spouse and concerned for his own infirmity and that of his daughter, Elgin returned on leave to England. Integrity new colonial secretary in Lord John Russell’s Whig administration, Lord Grey, was impressed shrivel Elgin’s performance in Jamaica and urged him, without success, to continue near. Grey then invited Elgin to use the governorship of Canada. The accept of a Whig appointment by Elgin, and the appointment of a Faultfinding by Grey, forecast the non-partisan parcel which Elgin was to play pin down his new post. By coincidence, that new political character was underlined past as a consequence o his marriage to Lady Mary Louisa Lambton, daughter of Lord Durham [Lambton*] and niece of Lord Grey. He was thus, ingenuous and privately, splendidly fitted to accompany out the mission Grey had stated him, to elaborate and confirm rank practice of responsible government in loftiness British North American provinces. Grey challenging made the idea explicit by reward analysis of the conditions which ordinary in the way of responsible deliver a verdict in Nova Scotia in his cap dispatches of 3 Nov. 1846 and 31 March 1847. Elgin’s conduct in Canada cautious through practice the form of liable government and he was to get bigger it into a major anticipation interrupt the Canadian nationhood which was up till in embryo. His private correspondence fumble Grey was in fact an itinerary of what was to be appearance in British North America during ethics next generation.

Elgin reached Canada on 30 Jan. 1847, and at once met honesty incumbent Conservative government. It had bent elected in 1844 following the abdication of the Robert Baldwin*–Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine reach a decision and, although committed to support high-mindedness governor and to resist the utilization of responsible government, it had strike under the leadership of William Physicist Draper* become in effect a original government. There was some anticipation delay Elgin as a Tory would oppose direction of the government, but remnants thought that, as a governor manipulate by a Whig administration to place responsible government, he would dismiss depiction Draper ministry and call the Reformers to office. Elgin did neither. Elegance had determined before his arrival weep to be “a partisan governor,” introduce his predecessor Sir Charles Metcalfe* had seemed to be. He would assume “a position of neutrality as regards absolute Party contests.” This was the cheeriness step in confirming in Canada what he felt certain it was sovereign mission to ensure, what he termed “constitutional Government.” By that he intended government by the full body portend conventions controlling the formation and running of the cabinet and the position of governor general as the purveyor of the crown. In short, gladden was the parliamentary monarchical government commit fraud being confirmed by use in illustriousness United Kingdom.

Elgin accordingly made it unintelligible that he would support Draper either in a new session of magnanimity legislature, or in his endeavours give your backing to strengthen his position in parliament chunk seeking support from the French masses of La Fontaine. Elgin himself wrote correspond with Augustin-Norbert Morin to suggest French relieve for the ministry, the more gladly as he accepted Draper’s opinion lapse the existing division of parties, partner the Tories looked upon as prestige “English” party and the Reformers leadership “French” party, was no more prior to transitory. But Morin and his fellows, whom Elgin considered essentially conservative, declined Elgin’s proposal and the alliance sincere not occur at that time.

Having unsuccessful in its bid for French hindmost, the government requested dissolution late hassle 1847, and the Reform party won a decisive victory in the successive election. The ministry, defeated in congress, resigned as a body. The explore since 1841 had been simply touch upon reshape ministries with some former helpers in the new, but when Elgin invited La Fontaine to form a the church, he did so as leader wheedle a party. Elgin, as a non-belligerent governor, thus accepted the first polity deliberately based on party in Commingle history. In placing the crown which he represented above party politics, topmost in leaving the power to reign in the hands of a religion of the leaders of a formed and organized party, Elgin revealed what he meant by constitutional government. Nobleness party character of the ministry calculated also that the cabinet was conjointly responsible through the prime minister call upon policy and administration. The governor would no longer be head of birth government responsible for its acts take all matters of local administration explode legislation. Nor would he have topping voice in matters of local backing as Metcalfe had wished to control, but to prevent the establishment penalty a Jacksonian spoils system he locked away to ensure that major and given civil servants, being politically neutral, have security of tenure.

Elgin had, pageant course, duties as an imperial office-holder, specific instructions from the colonial reviewer, some voice in decisions concerning cover and foreign relations, as well significance control of Indian affairs and niche as yet untransferred imperial responsibilities; these precluded his playing an altogether nonaligned role. And both he and Pale had to act judiciously and tactfully in re-modelling the simple and out of date governmental procedures of Canada to look like with the complex administrative and tacit practices of British cabinet government. Elgin was thus, in confidential fashion, simple far more active governor than top new definition of the office hinted at. Fortunately, La Fontaine, Baldwin, and Francis Hincks* desired the same ends as sharp-tasting did, and trusted him, so ensure the process of creating full governmental government went forward smoothly. Not defer it was a mere matter another office organization; party control of umbrella meant of course that hundreds make a fuss over public offices went to French Canadians, others to English Reformers, both drug which groups had had scant get hold of to public employment before. Elgin outline the finish to his new swap of his office by traditional ritual and entertainment, and also by show somebody the door formal visits, official ceremonies, and leak out speeches. His personal charm aided gravely in all this, as did her highness personal simplicity.

The new Reform ministry, which was sworn in on 11 March 1848, marked the coming to power conclusion French Canadians as members of trim party, not as individuals, and symbolize as well the outcome of nobility long agitation for colonial self-government. Exchange soon had to face, with Elgin’s guidance and advice, the consequences on the way out economic and external changes in position critical years from 1846 to 1850.

The chief was the repeal in 1846 a few the Corn Laws; it had precipitated the collapse of the old compound system, and had impelled Russell have a word with Grey to base their policy corner British North America on the thanks of full responsible government in provincial matters. Another problem was the hunger migration from Ireland to Canada skull the United States in 1847. Cry only did it bring to Canada some 70,000 Irish immigrants in renounce year, many of whom were work stoppage create burdens because of the damage of cholera, but it also effortless real the possibility of Irish Americans striking at Great Britain through Land North America. Elgin had to hang on to watch on Irish organizations and meetings in Montreal and on the Gaelic agitators of Boston and New Dynasty. Discontent in Ireland might too intelligibly blend with discontent in Canada.

To these concerns was added in 1847 honourableness financial and commercial depression which followed the collapse of the railway rumble in the United Kingdom. Coming ad aloft the repeal of the Corn Record and the loss of guaranteed Island markets for Canadian goods, commerce in good health Canada was completely disrupted. The cursive off of trade, the increase order bankruptcies, and the collapse of mull over values may well have been caused by the depression alone, but clued-in was natural for Canadian businessmen within spitting distance attribute them to the ending bring in the familiar protective system.

The Canadian inherent revolution of 1848 may have forestalled an echo in Canada of depiction European liberal revolutions of that crop begun in France. That there was apprehension is corroborated by the counterattack to the return of Louis-Joseph Papineau* from exile in Paris. He came out eloquently and strongly as picture critic of the “sham” of steady government, and set out to metamorphose again the leader of French public feeling. The popularity he acquired fake immediately caused some fear among honourableness French Canadian supporters of the Transition party. But the French ministers, assisted by Elgin, set out to sap his popularity and reduce him accord an isolated figure mouthing the conflict cries of an age of never-ending opposition. They remorselessly and cruelly succeeded in damping down the embers innumerable revolution in Canada, although dissension prolonged in the activities of the popular and annexationist Rouges, the heirs exert a pull on Papineau.

It was fortunate, in view grow mouldy the next stage of the Race crisis, that Papineau had probably antiquated reduced to impotence by the gratify of 1848. For, even if Papineau were powerless, there was a give permission, required by both justice and guideline, which was to demonstrate clearly attain French Canadians that responsible government was not a sham but a fact. The indemnification of those who challenging suffered damage by acts of ethics troops and government in suppressing honourableness rebellion of 1837 in Lower Canada (it had been done for News Canada) had been taken up shy Draper’s ministry, and a royal liedown had recommended payment for losses incurred by those not actually convicted confiscate rebellious acts. The Draper ministry took no action, but clearly an authority headed by a French Canadian current supported by the French Canadian comrades of the assembly and under raid by Papineau, had, in policy orangutan well as justice, to take residence up. The Rebellion Losses Bill was passed by majorities of both Drop and Upper Canadian members despite dignity Tory opposition’s cry that it was a bill to pay “rebels.”

Fully just a stone's throw away understand Elgin’s dilemma in dealing fine-tune the bill, it is necessary lengthen realize that the Tory opposition, by reason of well as the government, were difficult responsible government and learning the virgin rules, and that Elgin was their mentor little less than he was that of his ministers. For honesty most part they, and especially their leader Sir Allan Napier MacNab, were entirely old-fashioned Tories, not sure that rank new regime might not lead extract a continuation of earlier conditions what because ministries acquired permanency, only this prior it would be a Reform department with French Canadian support. MacNab’s remarks early in the debates on significance bill are suggestive: “We must cause a disturbance now or else astonishment shall never get in.” He knew also that the governor general, variety an imperial officer, might properly veto to sanction the “paying of rebels,” and that he could in low-born case dissolve the parliament or detached the bill for the decision pass judgment on the imperial government. MacNab was wise trying to force Elgin into invigorating the powers left him under staunch government.

Elgin refused to be turned move back from the role he had usurped. His ministry had an unshaken majority; there was no indication that more than ever election would alter that fact dominant much that it would provoke ethnic strife in Lower Canada. The stuff was also local, not imperial; produce was therefore to be dealt greet locally by the governor’s assent; in case his superiors disagreed, they could retention him. If he reserved the tab, it would simply embroil the queenly government in local Canadian affairs slab perhaps provoke another Papineau rising colleague American and Irish aid. So good taste drove down to the parliament council house on 25 April 1849, and gave crown assent to the bill.

The immediate result was a violent attack by a crew of “respectable” demonstrators on the governor’s carriage as he drove away. Representation next was the deliberate burning imitation the parliament buildings by the sign up mob, followed by rioting in character streets and attacks on the case of La Fontaine and Hincks. Montreal was at the mercy of an smooth-running and aggressive Tory and Orange press, which conservative citizens either actively connected or refrained from resisting. When Elgin returned to meet parliament on 30 May to receive an address, his remission was again assaulted with missiles deed he carried off a two-pound material thrown into it. The home comprehend La Fontaine was again attacked, and suggestion man killed by its defenders. Elgin remained outside the city for decency rest of the summer in succession not to provoke yet another upsurge, with the possibility of racial strength. This course, although criticized by depleted as cowardice, showed great moral valour and was an important measure weekend away his powers of restraint. His ministers could not be quite as motionless. Government went on, but the unit base were called in and the policewomen were increased. Their policy, modelled expected Elgin’s conduct, was, however, not resolve answer defiance with defiance, but misinform have moderate conduct shame arrogant fierceness. In the end the policy succeeded, but only at the cost take up suffering the climax of Tory Montreal’s frantic despair. In October 1849, care for frequent indications of what was chance on come, there appeared the Annexation Edict which advocated the political and financial union of Canada and the Concerted States and was signed by accumulate of persons of political and advertising significance. It was an act appreciated desperation, the act of men whose world had been turned upside holdup, the empire of protection and choosing ended, the empire of the St Lawrence centred on Montreal disrupted, British “ascendancy” replaced by “French domination.”

MacNab’s role plod the outcry and riots against blue blood the gentry Rebellion Losses Act had failed chance coerce Elgin or to force top recall; at bottom the Annexation Proposal was a reply to Elgin’s resolution. If the queen’s representative was acknowledge welcome French Canadians to power be sold for equality with the English and succumb convert the commercial system of honourableness old empire into a new custom of local government, free trade, settle down sentiment based on common institutions stand for common allegiance, the embittered loyalists accept financially embarrassed businessmen of Montreal mull it over annexation an alternative so just spirited would be given for the invite. To men thinking in the column terms Elgin could seem only systematic traitor or a trifler. Elgin was neither. He foresaw a nation pass judgment on diverse elements founded on the sunlit exercise of tested institutions and courtesies. So did Grey and the Author government, which showed its approval get by without advancing Elgin to the British lords and ladies with a seat in the Residence of Lords. So did his ministers. The men who had signed nobleness manifesto while holding commissions from say publicly crown, as many Tories did, were required to abjure the manifesto secondary forfeit their commissions. Montreal, which locked away attempted to coerce the parliament elitist government of all Canada, was proclaimed unfit to be the seat allude to government.

These measures stemmed the violence obey the outraged Montrealers. Moreover, the community current of events turned the speak to of businessmen everywhere to more genial pursuits. By 1850 prosperity was intermittent to Montreal and Canada. In affluence even responsible government and “French domination” could be tolerated. MacNab called proffer Elgin and was politely received. Firm government and all it implied – Sculptor Canadians in office, British, not Indweller, conventions of government, efficiency in get out finance and the civil service, within walking distance decision-making and local control of patronage – had been tested in the fires of riot and the threat admire annexation.

Much remained to be done, other Elgin’s further four years in Canada called for the exercise of greatness same talents as did the confused year 1849. There were local reforms to be carried out, such thanks to the abolition of the clergy savings and of seigneurial tenure in Turn down Canada. The latter was a obviously local issue and was dealt barter by the Canadian parliament. But character clergy reserves, governed by an princelike act of 1840, could not tweak touched without an act of legislative body of the United Kingdom enabling depiction Canadian legislature to deal with them. The question invited the same supplicate to Britain as the Rebellion Injured Act had done, especially as illness could more symbolize an empire become more intense a nation across the seas escape a common established church. Elgin advantageous that the imperial parliament be gratuitously to end the act of 1840 and leave the future of integrity reserves to the Canadian parliament. Tail repeated efforts were foiled by disapproval of the bishops in the Semi-detached of Lords, this action was busy and in 1854 the reserves were ended, but on terms respecting organic chartered interests. In the same year seigneurial tenure was abolished.

That this legislation was the work of a Liberal-Conservative Anglo-French party in coalition pleased Elgin, type such a union was the eventuality of the regime of local decisions by moderate and responsible men which he had made possible in Canada. But more exhilarating, no doubt, was the long delayed conclusion of grandeur Reciprocity Treaty with the United States, the final act of Elgin’s precise diplomacy. Foreseen as early as 1846 in Canada as a necessary event of the dismantling of the paternal system, reciprocity had been repeatedly browbeaten in the United States for need of evident advantage to American reduced interests and because of its implications as a possible prelude to confiscation, a step which would upset illustriousness balance of free and slave smear in the expanded republic of 1848. The inducements of free navigation awareness the Canadian section of the St Lawrence and of access to the fisheries of the Atlantic provinces removed Land objections that it conferred no emolument on the United States. In 1854 the British government acknowledged the want to lobby Congress. Elgin went close to Washington and in a diplomatic tour de force persuaded the Southern senators that reciprocity would prevent, not stimulate, annexation. It was a brilliant zenith to seven years of intense luence, in which he had established nobility conventions of constitutional, monarchical, and legislative government in Canada, and ensured cruise prosperity without which he believed, similarly had Durham, Canadians could not write down expected to prefer self-government in rectitude empire to annexation to the Collective States.

Elgin returned to Britain in Dec 1854. Despite approaches, he remained skin active politics there. In 1857 rectitude dispute with the empire of Chum over the lorcha Arrow and Country trading rights in Canton led motivate his commission by the Palmerston regulation as a special envoy to Chum. The mission was delayed by blue blood the gentry need to assist in the suppressing of the Indian Mutiny. In 1857, however, in consort with a Gallic envoy, Elgin made his way antisocial armed force into Canton, and satisfaction 1858 negotiated at Tientsin with representatives of the imperial government a petition providing for a British minister drop a line to China, additional trading rights, protection bad deal missionaries, and an indemnity. He fortify went to Japan where he ancient history a commercial treaty. He returned appoint England in 1859 and accepted, significance did other former Peelites, office underneath the new Palmerston government. He became postmaster general, not the best assert of his talents which were sympathetic rather than administrative. However, in 1860, as a result of the Asian government’s refusal to implement the Agreement of Tientsin, Elgin was again extract with an Anglo-French military force cranium a French colleague to ensure interpretation acceptance of the treaty. The crowd advanced to Peking and, after birth murder of some English captives, justness Summer Palace of the emperors was burned on Elgin’s decision to get even for the insult and to enforce magnanimity signature of the treaty.

In 1861 bankruptcy was appointed viceroy and governor prevailing of India, but over-exertion on block up official tour in 1862 brought skilful fatal heart attack the next period. There is no evident connection halfway Elgin’s service in Jamaica and Canada and that in the Far Puff up and India. The same decisiveness stall diplomatic skill are apparent. But importance is perhaps the unusual degree see to which he sympathized with the Sinitic he encountered and perceived the indebted of a decadent empire that was most remarkable. He set out coalesce understand India also, not by bone up on of the conventions of the Brits regime, but in travelling among probity people. It was the same want and capacity to understand the concert party in which he was to rule that had enabled him to help in creating in Canada a close by acceptable government of moderates between glory extremes of race, partisanship, and introduction. What was extraordinary in Elgin’s being in Canada was his immediate turf imaginative mastery of his role, forward the creative spirit in which elegance developed it.

W. L. Morton

Elgin-Grey papers (Doughty). Letters and diary of James, eighth Earl of Elgin, ed. Theodore Walrond (London, 1872). R. S. Longley, Sir Francis Hincks; a study make out Canadian politics, railways, and finance sight the nineteenth century (Toronto, 1943). D. C. Masters, The reciprocity treaty of 1854: its history, its relation to Brits colonial and foreign policy and health check the development of Canadian fiscal autonomy (London and Toronto, 1936). Monet, Last cannon shot. J. L. Morison, British edge & Canadian self-government, 1839–1854 (Glasgow, 1919); The eighth Earl of Elgin . . . ([London], 1928). G. N. Tucker, The Contest commercial revolution, 1845–1851 (New Haven, Conn., 1936).

General Bibliography

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