# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Parker, Albert Edmund

​PARKER, ALBERT EDMUND, third Earl of Morley (1843–1905), Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords, born in London on 11 June 1843, was only son of Edward Parker, second earl (1810–1864), by his wife Harriet Sophia (.1897), only daughter of Montagu Edmund Parker of Whiteway, Devonshire, and widow of William Coryton, of Pentillie Castle, Cornwall. Educated at Eton, where he subsequently became a fellow and governor, and at Balliol College, Oxford, he took a first class in literæ humaniores and graduated B.A. in 1865, having succeeded his father in the peerage in 1864. In the House of Lords he figured as a polished speaker of liberal principles. From 1868 to 1874 he was a lord-in-waiting to Queen Victoria during Gladstone's first administration. When Gladstone returned to office in 1880 Morley became under-secretary for war, serving first under Hugh Childers [q. v. Suppl. I] and then under Lord Hartington [q. v. Suppl. II]. He proved an efficient minister, notably in speeches upon recruiting (Hansard, cclxxx. cols. 1846-1859) and upon army organisation (ibid. cclxxxi. cols. 750-756); and he displayed a grasp of affairs during the debates on the suppression of the rebellion of Arabi Pasha in Egypt and the expedition to Khartoum. He quitted office with the ministry in 1885.
When the home rule question arose to divide the liberal party, Morley at first followed Gladstone; and from February to April 1886 was first commissioner of public works in that minister's third government. On 12 April he resigned, together with Mr. Edward (afterwards Lord) Heneage, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, after Gladstone had divulged the scope of his measure. He took little part in the ensuing political controversy, but his judicial temper was put to profitable use when, on 4 April 1889, he was chosen chairman of committees and deputy-speaker of the House of Lords on the proposal of Lord Granville by ninety-five votes to seventy-nine given to Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who was proposed by Lord Salisbury. He exercised his powers over private bill legislation with much discretion. For the guidance of promoters, 'a model bill' was annually devised by his standing counsel and himself, and by the beginning of every session the proposed measures, however numerous, had been passed under thorough review. Attacked by a lingering illness, he, to the general regret, sent in his resignation, which he intended to be temporary, in February 1904, Lord Balfour of Burleigh taking his place (Hansard, vol. cxxix. cols. 1139-1142). On 12 Feb. 1905 he finally resigned. Lord Lansdowne then said that, 'besides great diligence and ability. Lord Morley had shown great qualities of firmness, great powers of conciliation, and a sound and steady judgment, unswayed by considerations of personal popularity' (ibid. vol. cxli. col. 287). He died fourteen days later, on 26 Feb. 1905, at Saltram, Plympton St. Mary, and was buried in the parish church-yard. On the announcement of his death is the House of Lords further tributes to his memory were paid by Lord Spencer, Lord Halsbury, and Dr. Talbot, then bishop of Rochester.
The earl took an active interest in Devonshire affairs. He was a chairman of quarter sessions and vice-chairman of the Devon county council from 1889 to 1901, when he succeeded Lord Clinton as chairman. His speeches displayed a wide knowledge of local finance and requirements, and he held the appointment until 1904. In 1900, as one of the three deputy lords-lieutenant, he took an active part in the county in the equipment of imperial yeomanry and volunteers for the South African war. In succession to his father and grandfather he interested himself in the Plymouth chamber of commerce, became its president in 1864, and made its annual dinner the occasion for a speech on public affairs. He took pride in the fine collection of pictures at Saltram, and was an enthusiastic gardener.
He married in 1876 Margaret, daughter of Robert Stayner Holford of Dorchester House, London, and Weston Birt House, Tetbury, and had a daughter and three sons, of whom Edmund Robert, Viscount Boringdon, born on 19 April 1877, succeeded him as fourth earl. His portrait by Ellis Roberts is at 31 Prince's Gardens, London, S.W., and a copy of the head and shoulders, made after his death by the artist at the request of the Devon county council, is in the council's chamber at Exeter.
L. C. S.