| Discrete Collections | Politics, economics and social science collections |
| Title | Courtney; Leonard Henry (1832-1918); 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith; politician and Courtney; Catherine (1847-1929); nee Potter, wife of 1st Baron Courtney |
| Ref No | COURTNEY |
| Level | Collection |
| Date | 1862-1928 |
| Extent | 42 volumes and 1 file |
| Admin Biographical History | Leonard Henry Courtney, 1832-1918, was born in Penzance and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar in 1858 and became a Bencher in 1889. He left law to became Professor of Political Economy at University College, London in 1872, a post that he held until 1875. He also entered politics, becoming the Liberal Party MP for Liskeard from 1875 to 1885, and then MP for the Bodmin Division of Cornwall until 1900. He was made Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department 1880-1881, and for the Colonial Office 1881-1882. In 1884 he resigned the office of Financial Secretary to the Treasury. His last post was as Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker, which he held 1886-1892. Leonard Courtney was also a contributor to 'The Time' and 'Nineteenth Century'. He married Catherine (nee Potter, sister of Beatrice Webb) in 1883. |
| Description | Correspondence and papers of both Leonard and Kate Courtney, along with Kate Courtney's diaries. They include material on the Boer War, World War I, proportional representation, Ireland (Home Rule) and correspondence with John Stuart Mill.
Also included in the collection is the autobiography and diary of Rosalind Dobbs (Kate Courtney's sister). |
| Publication Note | Some of the letters are published in G P Gooch, "Life of Lord Courtney" (London, 1920).
Some of Kate Courtney's diary entries relating to the First World War have been published: "Extracts from a diary during the war", by Kate Courtney (1927). |
| Access Status | Open |
| Copyright Type | Other |