George Cornewall Lewis (Q60518)

Sir George Cornewall Lewis (1806-1863), politician and author, was born in London, the elder son of Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis of Harpton Court, Radnorshire. He acted on various Government commissions of enquiry, such as the inquiry into the condition of the poorer classes in Ireland, the commission to examine the state of Irish education and the commission to inquire into the troubled state of Malta. In 1838 he became a poor-law commissioner, following his father's resignation from the position. He married Lady Maria Theresa Lister in 1844. In 1847, he entered Parliament as Liberal M.P. for Herefordshire. The General Election of July 1852 saw him lose his seat. He became editor of the Edinburgh Review, 1852-1855. On his father's death, he succeeded him as the M.P. for Radnor boroughs, and became Chancellor of the Exchequer in Viscount Palmerston's first administration (1855-1858), and later Home Secretary and Secretary for War in Palmerston's second administration (1859-1865). He died in 1863.