b. 1814-10-01
d. 1906-10-30
Gathorne Hardy, under-secretary of the Home Office, was born at Bradford, in northern
England, on 1 October 1814. He was educated at Shrewsbury and Oriel College, Oxford,
where he received his BA in 1836, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple on
8 May 1840. Hardy entered the House of Commons as the member for Leominster in 1856,
holding that post for the next nine years.
He became under secretary for the Home Office on 3 March 1858, remaining until 17
June 1859. He was president of the Poor Law Board from July 1866 to May 1867, when
he accepted the appointment of secretary of state for the Home Office, which he held
until December 1868. Hardy was appointed secretary of state for the War Office in
February 1874. He was created Viscount Cranbrook in 1878, was secretary of state for
India from 1878 to 1880, and advanced to an earldom in 1892. Hardy died on 30 October
1906.
- 1. London Times, 31 October 1906, 4. See also Michael Stenton, Who's Who of British Members of Parliament Vol.1, 1832-1885 (Sussex, England: Harvester Press, 1976-1981) 180; Office-Holders, Home Office, 52, and Law List 1858, 50, BCPO 97.3..