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Michael Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn

The Right Honourable
The Earl St Aldwyn
Bt PC DL
Michael Hicks Beach, Lock & Whitfield woodburytype, 1876-84.jpg
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office
24 June 1885 – 28 January 1886
Monarch Victoria
Prime Minister The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by Hugh Childers
Succeeded by Sir William Vernon Harcourt
In office
29 June 1895 – 11 August 1902
Monarch Victoria
Edward VII
Prime Minister The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by Sir William Vernon Harcourt
Succeeded by Charles Ritchie
President of the Board of Trade
In office
21 February 1888 – 11 August 1892
Monarch Victoria
Prime Minister The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by The Lord Stanley of Preston
Succeeded by A. J. Mundella
Personal details
Born (1837-10-23)23 October 1837
London
Died 30 April 1916(1916-04-30) (aged 78)
Coln St Aldwyn, Gloucestershire
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Lady Lucy Catherine Fortescue
(1851–1940)
Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford

Michael Edward Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn Bt PC DL (23 October 1837 – 30 April 1916), known as Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bt, from 1854 to 1906 and subsequently as The Viscount St Aldwyn to 1915, was a British Conservative politician. Known as "Black Michael", he notably served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1885 to 1886 and again from 1895 to 1902 and also led the Conservative Party in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1886. Due to the length of his service, he was Father of the House from 1901 to 1906, when he took his peerage.

Born at Portugal Street in London, Hicks Beach was the son of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 8th Baronet, of Beverston, and his wife Harriett Vittoria, second daughter of John Stratton. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a first class degree in the School of Law and Modern History in 1858. In 1854 he succeeded his father as ninth Baronet.

In 1864 he was returned to Parliament as a Conservative for East Gloucestershire. During 1868 he acted both as Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board and as Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs. In 1874 he was made Chief Secretary for Ireland, and was included in the Cabinet in 1877. From 1878 to 1880 he was Secretary of State for the Colonies. In 1885 he was elected for Bristol West, and became Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons. After Gladstone's brief Home Rule Ministry in 1886 Hicks Beach entered Lord Salisbury's next Cabinet again as Irish Secretary, making way for Lord Randolph Churchill as Leader of the House; but troubles with his eyesight compelled him to resign in 1887.


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