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- 28 Sep 1869 (Creation)
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1 doc
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Richard Monckton Milnes was born on 19 June 1809, son of Robert Pemberton Milnes, MP for Pontefract, and his wife Henrietta Maria Monckton, daughter of the 4th Viscount Galway. Milnes was admitted to Trinity College Cambridge in 1827 and graduated MA in 1831. While at Cambridge he was one of the founding members of the Cambridge Conversazione Society (The Apostles) and was a friend of Tennyson, Hallam and Thackeray. He pursued an active literary life, both by publishing in prose and verse and maintaining an active correspondence with many of the prominent writers of the age. His regular breakfast parties also played a part in bringing many figures of note from all walks of life together
Milnes was the son and grandson of Members of Parliament and in 1837 he was elected to the Commons to represent his father's old constituency of Pontefract. Initially a follower of Peel, he moved towards the Liberal side of the House, and became a supporter of Lord John Russell. Though never rising to high office, he was prominent in legislation concerning copyright, the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill and the abolition of capital punishment. In 1845 he succeeded in getting a pension paid to Tennyson
Having courted Florence Nightingale, Milnes married Annabella, daughter of the 2nd Baron Crewe; they had three children. He was created Baron Houghton in 1863. He died in Vichy in 1885.
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States that he was glad to hear from Cowell, and very sorry to hear of his bad health. Admits that in the question he proposes he 'can only give an answer [apolitically obscure].' Refers to the group known as 'the "Apostles" ', and his perception of it during his time at Cambridge. Claims to believe that 'a certain amount of reserve' is an indispensable sign of the well-being of the Society. Maintains that the portrait of the Society in Dr [Coughlan's] [ ] religious [ ] 'shews how little the real character of the "Apostles" was known in his time and implies both the [ ] and some disadvantages resulting from it.' Concludes that he sees 'no good to be [ ] by talking much about the Society to the general world who are most likely to mistake its objects and misunderstand its principles.'
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- Cowell, John Jermyn (1838-1867), alpinist (Subject)
- Cambridge Conversazione Society (Subject)