Sir Edward Colebrooke, 4th Baronet


Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke, 4th Baronet, who was known as Sir Edward Colebrooke, was a British politician.

Early life and education

Edward was born in Calcutta, the second son of Henry Thomas Colebrooke and Elizabeth Colebrooke. He and his elder brother George Vernon went to Eton College. He then attended the East India Company College at Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire in preparation for appointment to a post in India with the East India Company.

India

Colebrooke arrived in India in June 1832 and worked in Allahabad, leaving India on 9 October 1835 and arriving home in London in January 1836 to comfort his father following the unexpected death of his elder brother.

Colebrooke baronetcy

Edward's brother George died on 9 February 1835 and his father in January 1837, leaving Edward heir to the Colebrooke baronetcy which he inherited in 1838 on the death of his uncle, Sir James Edward Colebrooke.

Career

Colebrooke was Liberal Member of Parliament for Taunton 1842–1852, Lanarkshire 1857–1868 and North Lanarkshire 1868–1885. He stood unsuccessfully as a liberal Unionist of North East Lanarkshire in 1886.
He was Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire 1869–1890.
Colebrooke went to live in Ottershaw, Surrey in 1859. He provided sufficient land from his estate for a church, churchyard and vicarage, paid all the construction costs and endowed the church with £100 per year.
He was Dean of Faculties at the University of Glasgow from 1869 to 1872 and was awarded an honorary LLD in 1873.
He was President of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1864 to 1866, from 1875 to 1877 and in 1881.

Marriage and family

He married Elizabeth Margaret Richardson, second daughter of John Richardson, at St Paul's Knightsbridge, London on 15 January 1857.
They had six children, of whom five survived into adulthood:
Sir Edward Colebroke died on 11 January 1890 at his London home, aged 76. His wife, Lady Elizabeth, died on 26 October 1896.