6th Marquess of Londonderry

THE MOST HON CHARLES STEWART MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY, KG etc,

GRAND MASTER OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF ST PATRICK,

LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND, 1886-89

Staunchly Conservative and Unionist, of noble birth and great wealth, the 6th Marquess of Londonderry was an obvious choice as Viceroy of Ireland for the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury. 

The office of Viceroy (Lord Lieutenant) - the very personification of the Sovereign - brought with it the highest position in Irish society.

The viceregal emolument in 1887 was £12,000 per annum (£120,000 in today's money). 

The Lord Lieutenant naturally felt obliged to entertain in the form of banquets, balls, receptions and other activities.

The young Lord Londonderry, aged 34,  accepted the offer promptly, though he stipulated that he would leave office after the customary three years owing to family and business commitments.

Lord Londonderry's portrait (top) can be viewed in the State Dining-room of Dublin Castle, dressed in his uniform as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

It has been said that most Viceroys preferred to live at Viceregal Lodge in Phoenix Park, County Dublin, rather than at the Castle in central Dublin.

In the portrait he wears the sky-blue mantle of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, as its Grand Master. 

The Garter sash is worn, as are the breast stars of the Garter and St Patrick.

Lord Londonderry was MP for County Down between 1878-84.

On 3 August 1885 his name was legally changed to Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest-Stewart by Royal Licence.

• Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1886-89;
• Knight Companion, Order of the Garter, 1888;
• One of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, 1892;
• Deputy Lieutenant, County Durham;
• Deputy Lieutenant, Montgomeryshire;
• Justice of the Peace, County Durham;
• Postmaster-General, 1900-02;
• Knight Grand Cross, Royal Victorian Order, 1903;
• Lord President of the Council, 1903-05;
• Mayor of Durham, 1910.

6th Marquess at Coronation of EDWARD VII

Lord Londonderry's County Down seat was Mount Stewart, near Newtownards.

His London residence was Londonderry House, Park Lane.

He died at his County Durham seat, Wynyard Park, in 1915.

First published in September, 2011.