The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
VERNON HARCOURT DEAD.
Former Liberal Leader Of the House Of
Commons Sucoumbs TO Heart Failure.

Special Cable Despatch 10 THE SUN.
LONDON, Oct 1.-The Right Hon. Sir
| William Vernon Harcourt the former Lib.
eral leader died this morning at Sewn-
ham, Gloucestershire, at the age OF n
He was a member OF Parliament for the
West Division OF Monmou thshire, but had
announced his intention of retiring soon
His son. Mr. Lewis Harcourt, was elected to
Parliament on March Is last.
Sir william was apparently in his usual
! health Yesterday. He died In his sleep
| The cause of death was heart failure.
! The Right Hon. Sir William George Gran
; Vile Venables Vernon harcot TT, NJ. p,
/ LII. D., +. II. s.. was born on Oct. IA. 1927
! He was a son of the Rev. William Vernon
and a grandson Of the Most Rev. and Right
! Hon. Edward Vernon. Archbishop of York.
| In Sir Williams early boyhood the main
! line Of the earldom Of Harcourt to which
he was connected through his maternal
Winning Harcourt Of Dean Swift's satire.
became extinct and the Archbishop of York
assumed the name. From that time the
Vernons were the Vernon Harcourts.
Sir William was graduated from Trinity
College, Cambridge. at the age Of "a, TAX
ing both classical and mathematical honors
in the class of 1851. He read law for three
years and became barrister OF the Inner
Temple in 1864. going on the hone circuit.
After year or two OF rather Indifferent
practice he began writing for the news
papers and periodicals. When a friend
OF the family asked his father why William
had given up the law. the old gentleman
repliedi - ,.. .,,. ~
the great questions Of the day He is sure
that the people Of Britain will steer straight
IL they can only know his views and follow
them. When ne has his pride of opinion,
he will 90 back to the law
While he didn't altogether forsake his
profession. young Harcourt gave the most
of his time for the next ten years 10 news
paper work. He became one Of the earliest
contributors to the Saturday Reciep. His
work as q reviewer defined his interest
dependent Liberal for Kirk caldy. He was
defeated and went back to his writing and
to law. Up to 1860 nothing he wrote at
tracted very general attention, but in that
year the Times printed a series OF articles
on points Of International law. including
the Trent affair. which was raised by the
American civil war.
The articles were signed -Historicus"
and attracted such very general attention
that half London was asking about the
identity OF the writer. In due time it be-
came known that Harcourt was the author
and he at once became recognized as an
authority on International law. He was
appointed Queens Counsel in 1868, and
two years later made his first entrance
into Parliament as a Liberal member for
the city OF Oxford. In 1869 he was elected
Whewell professor of international law
at Cambridge. Shortly afterward he was
made member Of the royal commissions
for amending the neutrality and naturali-
zation laws.
BY this time his law practice had become
lucrative, but he was then more Interested
In politics than In law. Although a Liberal.
he did not hesitate to criticise acts OF Mr..
Gladstones first Ministry, and in 1873
Gladstone made him Solicitor General in
OF 80 sharp critic. When Gladstone re-
turned to power In 1880 Sir William was
nominated Secretary Of State for the Home
Department. The nomination had hardly
been published when he was defeated for
reelection from Oxford. The late William
Plimsoll saved him, however, by resign
ing the seat for Derby, and Harcourt was
elected for Derby.
Going out Of Office with his party in 1885
he came back with the Liberal victory Of
holding this Office he put in force an in
heritanoe tax. called death duties which
raised a great to-do among the rich OF
England and which severely embarrassed
two or three great houses which happened
to have two deaths in the same year. No
has seen fit to abolish the tax.
Since 1885 Sir William sat continuously
in Parliament. He was q great friend Of
Gladstone, but split with him on Irish
Home Rule, and the two never agreed
politically after that. He was regarded as
one Of the most impressive orators In Eng
land, and after Gladstone the most bril-
liant debater In the House Of Commons.
few weeks ago he announced that he
would retire from politics. He was mar
ried twice. his second wife being the
widowed daughter Of John Lothrop Motley,
the American historian. He leaves q son,
ment for the Rossendaie division OF Lam
cashire.