# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Lawley, Francis Charles

​LAWLEY, FRANCIS CHARLES (1825–1901), sportsman and journalist, born on 24 May 1825, was fourth and youngest son of Sir Paul Beilby Lawley-Thompson, first Baron Wenlock, by his wife Catherine, daughter of Richard Neville, second Lord Braybrooke. After attending a school at Hatfield, he entered Rugby on 24 May 1837, and matriculated from Balliol College, Oxford, on 21 March 1844. In 1848 he won a second class in literæ humaniores, graduated B.A., and was elected a fellow of All Souls. In 1847 he entered the Inner Temple as a student, but was not called to the bar. He proceeded B.C.L. in 1851. Resolving on a political career, he was elected M.P. for Beverley as an advanced liberal in July 1852. Gladstone, when he became chancellor of the exchequer in December, made him a private secretary, and he performed his duties to the satisfaction of his chief, who remained his friend for life. Lawley gave up his Oxford fellowship in 1853. In May 1854 the duke of Newcastle, the colonial secretary, sounded Lawley as to his willingness to accept the governorship of South Australia. After the duke of Newcastle's retirement on 8 June 1854, his successor at the colonial office, Sir George Grey, made the offer in formal terms, and Lawley accepted it—with disastrous result to his career.
From an early age Lawley had interested himself in horse-racing—although while a fellow of All Souls' he could not (he said) run horses in his own name—and he soon involved himself disastrously in gambling and speculation. The colt Clincher, which he bought in 1849 jointly with the earl of Airlie, started favourite for the Derby of 1850, but ran third only to Voltigeur and Pitsford, with the result that Lawley lost many thousands. In 1851 he was to some extent interested in the fortunes of Teddington, who won the Derby. Subsequently he was owner of the well-known horse Gemma di Vergy, who won thirteen races as a two-year-old. Meanwhile dealings on the stock exchange exposed him to serious imputations. He was freely charged with turning to profitable personal use private information acquired as Gladstone's secretary, and he made admissions on being challenged by Sir George Grey which led to the cancelling of his colonial appointment. On 3 August Lawley's position was fully explained in the House of Commons by Sir George Grey, and in the discussion which followed Disraeli, Bright, Gladstone, and many others took part. Apart from questions of conduct, the bestowal of the governorship was censured on the ground of Lawley's youth; Gladstone defended his secretary on this and every count (Hansard, 3rd series, cxxxv. 1226-59).
Amid these embarrassments Lawley quitted England for the United States, and remained there for nine years, with little interruption. In America he acted as special correspondent of 'The Times' with the confederate army during the civil war. His despatches were admirable, both as to style and matter, and his valuable 'Account of the Battle of Fredericksburg' was published separately. He was in close touch with the Generals Stonewall Jackson, Longstreet, and Stuart. Returning to England in May 1865, he settled in London as a sporting writer and journalist, and quickly acquired a literary reputation. He was a frequent contributor to the 'Daily Telegraph,' with which he was connected until his death. He also published much in 'Baily's Magazine.' An accurate and polished style, a retentive memory, and a vast fund of first-hand knowledge and anecdote, gave value to his work. His range of topic in newspaper and magazine was wide, extending over 'Trainers, New and Old,' 'Sport in the Southern States,' 'Napoleon's Chargers,' 'Decline of Irish Humour,' 'A Word for Pugilism,' and 'Mr. Gladstone's Coaching Days.' To this Dictionary he contributed a memoir of ​Admiral Rous. In 1889 he intervened in the bitter controversy respecting the conduct of Charles Wood, the jockey, with a pamphlet in Wood's defence, entitled ‘The Bench and the Jockey Club.’
As a writer of books Lawley's most successful effort was ‘The Life and Times of “The Druid”’ [i.e. Henry Hall Dixon, q. v. Suppl. I] (1895). In conjunction with John Kent he published in 1892 ‘The Racing of Lord George Bentinck.’ Of handsome presence and courtly demeanour, Lawley proved a fascinating companion. He died on 18 Sept. 1901, in King's College Hospital, London, from an illness which had seized him that day in the street. In 1860 he married Henrietta, daughter of Frederick Zaiser, chaplain to the King of Saxony. He left no issue.
[The Times, 21 Sept. 1901; Daily Telegraph, 21 Sept. 1901; Sportsman, 20 Sept. 1901; Baily's Mag., Feb. 1902 (portrait); Lawley's The Bench and the Jockey Club, 1889.]
E. M.