Sir William Anson, 3rd Baronet

Sir William Reynell Anson, 3rd Baronet, PC, FBA (14 November 1843 – 4 June 1914) was a British jurist and Liberal Unionist turned Conservative politician from the Anson family.

The Right Honourable
Sir William Anson
Bt, FBA
Sir William Reynell Anson, 3rd Bt. (1843–1914), photographed 5 March 1906
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education
In office
11 August 1902 – 4 December 1905
MonarchEdward VII
Prime MinisterArthur Balfour
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byThomas Lough
Personal details
Born14 November 1843
Walberton, Sussex
Died4 June 1914 (1914-06-05) (aged 70)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal Unionist (before 1912)
Conservative (after 1912)
Alma materBalliol College, Oxford

Background and education

Anson was born at Walberton, Sussex, the eldest son of Sir John William Hamilton Anson, 2nd Baronet, and his wife Elizabeth Catherine (née Pack). Educated at Eton, 1857–62,[1] and Balliol College, Oxford, 1862–66, he took a first class in both Classical Moderations, 1863, and Literae Humaniores ('Greats', a combination of philosophy and ancient history), 1866.[2] He was elected to a fellowship of All Souls in the following year.[3]

"All Souls". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1901.

In 1869, he was called to the Bar, and went on the home circuit until 1873, when he succeeded to the baronetcy. In 1874, he became Vinerian reader in English law at Oxford, a post attached to a Fellowship of All Souls College, which he held until he became, in 1881, Warden of All Souls.[3][4]

Anson identified himself both with local and university interests; he became an alderman of the city of Oxford in 1892, chairman of quarter sessions for the county in 1894, was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1898–1899, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Oxford in 1899. In that year he was returned, without opposition, as Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford University in the Liberal Unionist interest, and consequently resigned the vice-chancellorship.[3]

In Parliament, Anson preserved an active interest in education, being a member of the newly created consultative committee of the Board of Education in 1900,[3] and in August 1902 he became the first Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education,[5] a post he held until 1905. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1911.

Anson took an active part in the foundation of a school of law at Oxford, and taught law to undergraduates of Trinity College, Oxford, from 1886 to 1898.[6] His volumes on The Principles of the English Law of Contract (1884, 11th ed. 1906), and on The Law and Custom of the Constitution in two parts, "The Parliament" and "The Crown" (1886–1892, 3rd ed. 1907, pt. 1 .vol. ii.), became standard works.[3][7]

He received the honorary degree Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from the Victoria University of Manchester in February 1902, in connection with the 50th jubilee celebrations of the establishment of the university.[8]

He was on the governing body of Abingdon School from 1900 until his death in 1914.[9]

Personal life

Anson died in June 1914, aged 70.[10] He never married and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew, Denis.

See also

References
  1. National Dictionary of Biography, 1912-1921, London : Oxford University Press, 1927, p. 8.
  2. Oxford University Calendar 1895, Oxford : Clarendon Press, pp.177, 304.
  3. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anson, Sir William Reynell". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 84.
  4. Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "All Souls College". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 173–193. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  5. "Mr Balfour´s Ministry - full list of appointments". The Times. No. 36842. London. 9 August 1902. p. 5.
  6. National Dictionary of Biography, 1912-1921, London : Oxford University Press, 1927, p.9.
  7. Books by Sir William Reynell Anson, Alibris.
  8. "University intelligence". The Times. No. 36704. London. 1 March 1902. p. 12.
  9. "The Liberator" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
  10. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Anson, Sir William Reynell" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 30 (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. p. 139.

Further reading
  • Anson's Law of Contract (29th edn, OUP, 2010) now edited by J Beatson, A Burrows and J Cartwright.
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