Harcourt

Harcourt, SIR WILLIAM VERNON, the second son of the late Rev. William Vernon Harcourt of Nuneham Park, Oxfordshire, and grandson of a former Archbishop of York, was born October 14, 1827, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with high honours in 1851. He was called to the bar in 1854, went the Home Circuit, and was made a Queen's Counsel in 1866. It was during this period that he acquired distinction by his contributions to the Saturday Review, and his letters in the Times under the signature of 'Historicus.' After unsuccessfully contesting the Kirkcaldy burghs, he was returned to parliament for the city of Oxford as a Liberal in 1868. The following year he was elected professor of International Law in the university of Cambridge. He took an independent tone in the House of Commons, sometimes attacking both friends and foes. But the undoubted mark which he made by his abilities and oratory caused him to be appointed solicitor-general in November 1873, when he received the honour of knighthood. He held office until Mr Gladstone's retirement in February 1874, and when that statesman returned to power in 1880 he was appointed Home Secretary. On seeking re-election at Oxford, however, he was defeated, but was almost immediately returned for Derby upon the opportune retirement of Mr Plimsoll. During the session of 1880 Sir William piloted the Ground Game Bill through the House of Commons, and in 1881 he introduced the Arms Bill (Ireland) in a speech which was strongly resented by the Irish members. He brought in the Prevention of Crimes Bill (1882) and the Explosives Bill of 1883, which dealt summarily with dynamite outrages. He next made an abortive attempt to grapple with the municipality of London. The ministerial policy in the Soudan he defended with much skill on various occasions. In 1885 Sir William went out of office with his chief, but returned with him, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to power for six months in 1886—an office he resumed in Mr Gladstone's Home Rule cabinet of 1892, and held till 1895. He was elected leader of the Liberal party (out of office) on the resignation of Lord Rosebery in 1896, which office he resigned in December 1898. The letters of 'Historicus' were published in volume form in 1863.