AGED STATESMAN DEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 9

AGED STATESMAN DEAD

LORD ROSEBERY, FORMER PRIME MINISTER COLLEAGUE OF GLADSTONE (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) LONDON, Tuesday. The death occurred early this morning of the Earl of Rosebery, aged 82. It was stated last evening that he was sinking rapidly, and there were

numerous messages of inquiry, including one from the King and Queen. Lord Rosebery died at his residence, “The Durdans,” Epsom, where he had lived in retirement for many years. He rarely stirred out except for a daily drive. His illness developed with startling suddenness. He was in his normal health on May 16, when he drove out twice, but next day he had developed a feverish cold.

Archibald Philip Primrose, fifth Earl of Rosebery# was a Londoner by birth, and grandson of the fourth earl. He was born on May 7, 1847, at ChaiTes Street, Berkeley Square. Lord Dalmeny, as he was then styled, went to Eton in 1862. In January, 1866, he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, but he offended the dean by his horseracing proclivities, and withdrew from the university in 1867. In 1869 he failed to win the Derby with a horse called Ladas. He married in 1878 Miss Hannah Rothschild, heiress of Baron Meyer de Rothschild, and in that year was elected rector of Aberdeen University, and was rector of Edinburgh University in J 882. His first political office was as Under-Secretary for the Home Office in 1881, and he was in succession Lord Privy Seal, Chief Commissioner of Works, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1886 and 1892-94, under Mr. Gladstone, and Prime Minister, 1894-95. He was twice chairman of the London County Council. Lord Rosebery wrote notable biographies of fellow-statesmen, including “Pitt” (1891), “Sir Robert Peei” (1899), “Napoleon, the Last Phase,’’ and "Oliver Cromwell” (1900); “Lord Randolph Churchill” (1906), and “Chatham” (1910). As a sportsman, too, he had the greatest popularity, conspicuously so during the years 1893 to 1895, when last in office. His Treasure ran second in the Oaks of 1893, and he Won the Derby two years running in 1894-95 with Ladas and Sir Visto. He achieved the distinction of being the first Prime Minister to win the great race. A noted speaker, he has been called “the orator of the Empire.” He owned 7,000 acres in Linlithgowshire, 18,500 in Midlothian, 5,500 in Bucks, 2,000 in Norfolk, 500 in Herts, 170 in Kent, three in Suffolk. On his Midlothian estate there were huge oil works, and these had an odour of their own. On one occasion a visiting English peer, when driving with the earl in Dalmeny Park, diplomatically referred to the atmospheric taint. “Ah. quite so,” replied the noble lord, with one of his gleaming smiles; “but then, it smells 15 per cent.” In spite of his great wealth, no man in Scotland ever excelled him in lecturing on thrift.