Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke


Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke, 11th Earl of Montgomery, , styled The Honourable Sidney Herbert between 1861 and 1895, was a British politician and peer.

Background and education

Herbert was born at 49 Belgrave Square, London, the second son of Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea and Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant-General Charles Ashe à Court. George Herbert, 13th Earl of Pembroke, was his elder brother, and Sir Michael Henry Herbert his younger brother. Catherine Woronzow was the daughter of a prominent aristocratic Russian family, the Woronzows. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.

Political career

Herbert was elected as Member of Parliament for Wilton in Wiltshire in 1877 but lost his seat in the 1885 general election. This was somewhat of a shock given that the seat of the Earls of Pembroke was at Wilton House and his family dominated Wiltshire politics. Herbert was then chosen early in 1886 to replace William Grantham, who had just been appointed a judge, in Croydon. He was duly elected and served under Lord Salisbury as a Lord of the Treasury between 1886 and 1892. Although considered an able Member of Parliament, he was perhaps best known for his good looks and was widely regarded as the most handsome MP at the time.
Herbert succeeded his brother as Earl of Pembroke in 1895. He continued his political career in the House of Lords as Lord Steward of the Household under Salisbury and Arthur Balfour between 1895 and 1905. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1895.
Lord Pembroke became President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for a year in 1896.

Family

Lord Pembroke married Lady Beatrix Louisa Lambton, daughter of the George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham, on 29 August 1877. They had two sons and two daughters.
Pembroke died in Rome, Italy, in March 1913, aged 60, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, Reginald. Lord Pembroke's brother-in-law Hubert Parry composed and premiered an Elegy for organ solo to commemorate the funeral, which took place on 7 April 1913. Beatrix, Countess of Pembroke died in March 1944.