Francis Horner
| Francis Horner | |
|---|---|
Francis Horner by Henry Raeburn.
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| Member of Parliament for St Mawes | |
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In office 1813–1817 |
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| Member of Parliament for Wendover | |
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In office 1807 – 1812 |
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| Member of Parliament for St Ives | |
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In office 1806 – 1807 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
12 August 1778 Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| Died | 8 February 1817 (aged 38) Pisa, Italy. |
| Resting place | Old English Cemetery, Livorno, Italy. |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Political party | Whig |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Politician and lawyer. |
Francis Horner FRSE (12 August 1778 – 8 February 1817) was a Scottish Whig politician, journalist, lawyer and political economist.
He was born in Edinburgh the son of John Horner a linen merchant and his wife Joanna Baillie. The family lived originally on Princes Street then moved to 19 York Place. His younger brother was Leonard Horner.
He studied at University of Edinburgh, where he was praised by Professor Dugald Stewart as an intellectual all-rounder. He left the university in 1795 and went with Rev. John Hewlett to Middlesex, where he almost lost his Scottish accent. He was also a member of the Speculative Society (with Henry Brougham) and the Academy of Physics, the Chemical and Literary societies, as well as others. In May 1799 he read Henry Addington's speech in favour of the union with Ireland, and wrote in his journal: "I like, throughout this speech, that familiar acquaintance with the principles and language of the constitution...which...awakens all my veneration (some of which may be prejudice) for the ancient Whig politics of England, which are at present so much out of fashion, being hated by both parties". He read David Hume's history in August 1800 and wrote: "The history of Britain, during the eighteenth century, haunts me like a dream; and I am alternately intoxicated with visions of historic laurels and of forensic eminence".
He qualified as an advocate in Scotland in 1800 and in England in 1807.
In 1802, Horner was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Review, and in the next few years he would contribute fourteen articles to that journal. Here he became acquainted with fellow Whig journalists. In June 1804 he wrote:
...in the general maxims and principles of Mr. Fox's party, both with regard to the doctrine of the constitution, to foreign policy, and to the modes of internal legislation, I recognise those to which I have been led by the results of my own reflection, and by the tenor of my philosophical education. And I am ambitious to co-operate with that party, in labouring to realise those enlightened principles in the government of our own country...All my feelings carry me towards that party; and all my principles confirm the predilection. Into that party, there, I resolve to enlist myself.
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