Henry Robert Brand GCMG (1841 - 1906)

Born 2 May 1841 in Devonport, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Victoria Alexandrina Leopoldina (van de Weyer) Brand — married 21 Jan 1864 in Bray, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Susan Henrietta (Cavendish) Brand — married 14 Apr 1868 in Pimlico, London, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1906 at age 65 in London, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Preceded by 18th Governor The Rt Hon. Sir Robert Duff GCMG

Henry Robert Brand 19th Governor of New South Wales Nov 21 1895 - Mar 5 1899

Succeeded by 20th Governor The Rt Hon. Earl Beauchamp KCMG PC

Henry Brand GCMG is Notable.

Rt Hon Sir Henry Brand was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Sir Henry Robert Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden and 24th Baron Dacre, GCMG KStJ was a British Army officer and Member of the House of Commons. He was appointed Governor of New South Wales 1895-1899.

Engraved portrait drawn by Percy F Spence

Henry Robert Brand was born on 2 May 1841 in Government House, Devonport, Devon, England. He was the eldest son of Henry Bouverie William Brand, army officer, and later Speaker of the House of Commons and 1st Viscount Hampden, and his wife Elizabeth Georgina, née Ellice. ^[1]

Military career

After graduating from Rugby School, Henry Junior entered the British Army in December 1858, serving, as had his father and grandfather, in the Coldstream Guards. In 1862 he was appointed aide-de-camp to Viscount Monck, last Governor General of the Province of Canada and first Governor General of Canada.

Marriages

On 21 January 1864 in Bray, Berkshire, Henry married Victoria Alexandrina Leopoldina van de Weyer. ^[2] Sadly, Victoria passed away the following year. He resigned his commission in October 1865.

In Pimlico, London, on 14 April 1868, he married a second time, to Susan Cavendish, niece of William Cavendish the 7th Duke of Devonshire. ^[3] They had six sons and three daughters:

1. Brigadier General Thomas Walter Brand, 3rd Viscount Hampden of Glynde (1869-1958)
2. Admiral Hon. Sir Hubert George Brand (1870-1955)
3. Richard Brand (1871-80)
4. Hon. Margaret Brand (1873-1948)
5. Hon. Alice Brand (c1877-1945)
6. Hon. Dorothy Louisa Brand (1878-1958)
7. Robert Henry Brand, 1st and last Baron Brand (1878-1963)
8. Brigadier General Hon. Roger Brand (1880-1945)
9. Hon. Geoffrey Brand (1885-99)

Parliamentary career

Henry was elected to the House of Commons for the seat of Hertfordshire in 1868-74, and for Stroud in 1874 (until unseated by petition) and in 1880-86. In 1883-85 he was surveyor-general of ordnance. Joining the Liberal Unionists over Irish Home Rule, he was defeated for Cardiff in 1886.

When his father was created Viscount Hampden of Glynde, of co. Sussex in March 1884, Henry became entitled as The Honourable.

Henry succeeded to the Viscountcy Hampden of Glynde and as 24th Baron Dacre in 1892, upon the death of his father. Susan thereby became entitled as Viscountess Hampden and their children as The Honourable (Hon.).

Vice Regal appointment

In June 1895, refusing creation as Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), Henry was appointed governor of New South Wales, succeeding Sir Robert Duff. With his wife, a son and three daughters, he arrived in Sydney on 21 November. His term was remarkable as one of political calm, as the colony was led adroitly for the whole time by Premier (Sir) George Reid. The governor faced no political or constitutional crises, but was an interested observer of the emerging Labor Party, of the constitutional conventions leading to Federation and of colonial restrictive immigration legislation. In November 1896 he visited Norfolk Island on instructions from the British government and the following year government of the island was vested in him under advice from his ministry. He had hoped to see Federation accomplished but resigned office prematurely due to his eldest son's contemplated marriage. The Hampdens' departure from Sydney on 5 March 1899 was a quiet affair, shadowed by the recent death in England of their youngest son, Geoffrey. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in June and retired into private life.

Retirement and death

A member of Brooks' and the Travellers Club and a keen sportsman, he had observed that, lacking good hunting, shooting and fishing, 'New South Wales cannot be called a sporting country', though he noted that Australians were 'passionately attached to horse-racing' and superior to England on the cricket field. Funny how perceptions of sport change over the years.

Aged 65 years, Sir Henry passed away of chronic Bright's disease on 22 November 1906 in London. ^[4]

His portrait by Tom Roberts is on display at Government House, Sydney.

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Jun qtr 1841, vol 9, page 441; registered at Stoke Damerel
2. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Mar qtr 1864, vol 2c, page 515; registered at Cookham
3. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Jun qtr 1868, vol 1a, page 556; registered at St George Hanover Square
4. ↑ UK FreeBMD Death Index Dec qtr 1906, vol 1a, page 301; registered at St George Hanover Square

See also

• Cunneen, Chris. 'Hampden, second Viscount (1841–1906)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
• The Peerage.
• Wikipedia.