The Right Honourable Jonathan Peel |
|
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Secretary of State for War | |
In office 26 February 1858 – 11 June 1859 |
|
Monarch | Victoria |
Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby |
Preceded by | The Lord Panmure |
Succeeded by | The Lord Herbert of Lea |
In office 6 July 1866 – 8 March 1867 |
|
Monarch | Victoria |
Prime Minister | The Earl of Derby |
Preceded by | The Marquess of Hartington |
Succeeded by | Sir John Pakington, Bt |
Personal details | |
Born | 12 October 1799 |
Died |
12 October 1799 Marble Hall, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Lady Alice Kennedy (d. 1887) |
Jonathan Peel, PC (12 October 1799 – 13 February 1879) was a British soldier, Conservative politician and racehorse owner.
Peel was the fifth son of Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet, and his first wife Ellen (née Yates), and the younger brother of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Rugby.
Peel was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1815. His later steady rise through the ranks was obtained by purchase. Peel served as a lieutenant in the 71st Highlanders from 1819–21 and in the Grenadier Guards from 1822 to 1825, as a Major in the 69th Foot from 1826 to 1827, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 53rd Foot in 1827, when he was placed on half-pay. He was promoted to brevet Colonel in 1841, to Major-General in 1854 and to Lieutenant-General in 1859.
Peel's political career started when he was elected Member of Parliament for Norwich in 1826. He lost this seat in 1830 but returned to Parliament the following year as one of two representatives for Huntingdon, a seat he held until 1868.
He served under his brother as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance from 1841–46 and was Secretary of State for War (with a seat in the cabinet) under the Earl of Derby between 1858 and 1859 and 1866 and 1867. In the latter office he was considered competent and successful and became very popular. However, he resigned in March 1867 in protest against the proposed electoral reforms. He had been admitted to the Privy Council in 1858.