Algernon Egerton


Algernon Fulke Egerton, known as Algernon Leveson-Gower until 1833, was a British Conservative politician from the Egerton family.

Background

Egerton was the third son of Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere, younger son of George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland. His mother was Harriet Catherine, daughter of Charles Greville, while George Egerton, 2nd Earl of Ellesmere, and the Honourable Francis Egerton were his elder brothers.

Political career

Egerton entered the House of Commons for Lancashire South in 1859, a seat he held until 1868, and then represented Lancashire South-East from 1868 to 1880 and Wigan from 1882 to 1885. He held office under Benjamin Disraeli as Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty from 1874 to 1880.

Volunteer and Yeomanry career

On 16 May 1860 he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the 3rd Manchester Rifles, a Rifle Volunteer unit recently raised by his political colleague John Snowdon Henry. He later became its Honorary Colonel, and in 1875 his nephew, Francis Egerton, 3rd Earl of Ellesmere became lieutenant-colonel commandant.
He was also commissioned as lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry on 15 December 1862 and remained in command until 1882.

Family

Egerton married Alice Louisa, daughter of Lord George Cavendish, in 1863. They had two sons and seven daughters:
Egerton died in July 1891, aged 65. His wife survived him by fourteen years and died in March 1905.