Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey Passes Away

Today in Masonic History Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey passes away in 1915.

Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey was a British peer, politician and banker.

Lord Jersey was born Berkley Square, London, England on March 20th, 1845. Queen Victoria was one of Lord Jersey's godparents, accepting the role as a token of her friendship with Robert Peel, Lord Jersey's grandfather. He was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford. At the age of 14, Lord Jersey succeeded his father for the earldom when his father passed away in 1859. He also became the principal proprietor of the family banking firm Child & Co.

Starting in 1875, Lord Jersey served for two years as the Lord-in-Waiting, which is the government whip in the House of Lords. In 1889 Lord Salisbury made him Pay-Master General a position he held for 1 year.

In 1890, Lord Jersey was appointed to Queen Victoria's Privy Council and was made a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. The same year he was appointed Governor of New South Wales. Lord Jersey held the position until 1892 when he resigned his position citing pressing business affairs. Lord Salisbury felt Jersey found "less individual power to his office than he imagined." Jersey himself wrote to the colonial office in London, "the duties and responsibilities of a governor can hardly be called serious nowadays being chiefly of a social character."

Lord Jersey passed away on May 31st, 1915.

Lord Jersey was initiated into Apollo University Lodge No. 357 on October 25th, 1865. He was passed in Churchill Lodge No. 478 in December of the same year. He was raised in Apollo University Lodge No. 357 in February 1866. He served as Grand Senior Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England. In 1885 he became Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire. During his appointment as Governor of New South Wales he became a member of Ionic Lodge No. 65 and shortly after was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.