Transcript

of

The Earl of Morley [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. XXXVII, (1905), p. 35.

by

J. Brooking-Rowe (Ed.).

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1905 Princetown meeting. The Parker family of Saltram had emerged in the 16th century from seemingly humble origins in North Molton. In 1815, John Parker, 2nd Baron Boringdon (1772–1840), on his elevation to the dignity of an earl in 1815, chose the title Earl of Morley, ostensibly referring to his recent purchase of the relatively minor Devon manor of Morley (modern spelling Moreleigh), midway between Totnes and Kingsbridge. It had apparently become quite common in the 19th century for members of the post-mediaeval nobility when elevated further in the peerage to adopt defunct mediaeval titles which bore some ostensible link to the family, thus lending it an air of great antiquity. Apart from his career in national politics the Third Earl was Chairman of Devon County Council, a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Devon.  He also served as President of the first day of the 1886 Co-operative Congress.  Co-operative Congresses were initially known as the Owenite Congresses, and provided a gathering place for the fledgling co-operative movement. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

The Earl of Morley. Albert Edmund Parker, third Earl of Morley, and Viscount Boringdon, was born in 1843. His father was the second earl, his mother the daughter of Montagu Edmund Parker, of Whiteway, Devon, widow of William Coryton, of Pentillie Castle. He was educated at Eton and Balliol, and took a first class in Literae Humaniores, In 1880 Lord Morley became Under-Secretary for War in Mr. Gladstone's Government. He filled this offlce for five years, and in 1886 he became First Commissioner of Works. In 1889 he was appointed to the permanent and important office of Chairman of Committees and Deputy-Speaker of the House of Lords. Lord Morley was the first Vice-Chairman of the Devon County Council, and was elected Chairman on the death of Lord Clinton. In 1876 he married Margaret, daughter of the late Robert S. Holford, of Weston Birt, co. Gloucester, and Dorchester House, Park Lane. He became a member of our Association in 1885, and on the occasion of its meeting at Plympton received the members at a garden party at Saltram. He died, after a long and painful illness, on 26 February, 1905.