H. O. Arnold-Forster

The Right Honourable
H. O. Arnold-Forster
Secretary of State for War
In office
12 October 1903  4 December 1905
Monarch Edward VII
Prime Minister Arthur Balfour
Preceded by Hon. St John Brodrick
Succeeded by Richard Haldane
Personal details
Born (1855-08-19)19 August 1855
Died 12 March 1909(1909-03-12) (aged 53)
Nationality British
Political party Liberal Unionist
Conservative
Spouse(s) Mary Story-Maskelyne
(1861-1951)
Alma mater University College, Oxford

Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster PC (19 August 1855 – 12 March 1909), known as H. O. Arnold-Forster, was a British politician and writer. He notably served as Secretary of State for War from 1903 in Balfour's Conservative government until December 1905.

Background and education

Arnold-Forster was the son of William Delafield Arnold, Director of Public Instruction in the Punjab, and grandson of Thomas Arnold, of Rugby. When his father died in 1859, he was adopted by William Edward Forster and his wife Jane, who was his father's sister. He was educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford, from which he graduated with 1st Class Honours. He was called to the bar in 1879.

Political career

Arnold-Foster caricatured by Spy for Vanity Fair, 1905

Arnold-Forster acted as private secretary to his adoptive father, who became Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1880. He joined Cassell & Co. in 1885, for whom he prepared educational manuals, including the "Citizen Reader" series. He was secretary of the Imperial Federation League from 1884.

He sat as Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament for West Belfast from 1892 to 1906 and Unionist member for Croydon from 1906 until his death and served as Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty under Lord Salisbury and Arthur Balfour from 1900 to 1903 and under Balfour as Secretary of State for War (with a seat in the cabinet) from 1903 to 1905, during which time he reorganized the War Office (see Esher Report). In 1903 he was sworn of the Privy Council. During the Army reforms he clashed with Lord Esher, the King's minister attendant. He complained to the Prime Minister that he was being circumvented by an unelected and unaccountable authority vested in the royal prerogative. Balfour's proposal, to annexe some of the royal prerogatives, was partly because of the challenge to the post of Commander-in-Chief which was abolished as a royal sinecure. Arnold-Foster was frequently ignored at cabinet meetings, as decisions had been taken behind his back by courtiers moving in Military circles.[1]

Family

Arnold-Forster married Mary Lucy Story-Maskelyne (1861 –1951), daughter of Nevil Story Maskelyne, in 1885. They had four sons, of whom his Times obituary states "the eldest is just beginning to practise as an artist, and the youngest is a naval cadet." They were :

Arnold-Forster died in March 1909, aged fifty-three.

Publications

Arnold-Forster's publications include:

Bibliography

References

  1. Jane Ridley, "Bertie: the Life of Edward VII" ; Letters and Journals of Reginald Brett, Viscount Esher, volume 2, 1903-1910.; Peter Fraser, "The Life and Times of Reginald Brett, Viscount Esher"

External links

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Thomas Sexton
Member of Parliament for Belfast West
18921906
Succeeded by
Joseph Devlin
Preceded by
Charles Ritchie
Member of Parliament for Croydon
1906–1909
Succeeded by
Sir Robert Hermon-Hodge, Bt
Political offices
Preceded by
William Ellison-Macartney
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty
19001903
Succeeded by
E. G. Pretyman
Preceded by
Hon. St John Brodrick
Secretary of State for War
1903–1905
Succeeded by
Richard Haldane
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