b. 1813-07-10
d. 1875-03-07
Born 10 July 1813, Arthur Helps grew to become an important literary figure and key presence within
the British government. Although Helps held many notable positions in his youth - such as private secretary
to Lords Monteagle and Carlisle and commissioner of French, Spanish, and Danish claims
- Helps became particularly respected for his time as a clerk of the Privy Council
(the sovereign's private council). From the 1860s until his death, Helps led the Privy Council under six governments
and handled issues like the American Civil War, health and civil service reform, and
management of the colonies.
Known for his likeable and trustworthy nature, Helps frequently acted as a confidant
to others. Everyone from leaders of the opposition to the
Queen sought Helps' advice. Helps' friendship with the
Queen and
Prince Albert deepened considerably during his time at the council: he offered to edit her journals
for publication, which later led the
Queen to request Helps edit
Prince Albert's speeches after the
prince's death. However, despite this famous company, Helps never cared for class distinctions.
He lent a similar ear to neighbours in his rural community and frequently offered
his private library to the town.
Historians believe Helps was one of the defining literary figures of his time. With
over twenty major publications, Helps frequently wrote essays on social topics from
health reform to violent conflicts abroad and class issues. His prose style and dialogue
techniques became staples of his work. However, Helps' impact is largely forgotten now, apparently by his own design. After
his death, Helps requested all his private correspondence be burned (excluding his
correspondence with the
Queen, who seized their letters) and hoped to leave little trace of his life behind. Helps'
son, Edmund Helps, later published leftovers of his father's more official correspondence.
Later in life, Helps entered financial strain after a failed clay-production venture.
The
Queen offered Helps and his wife a place at Kew Gardens, one of the
Queen's private estates. Helps lived here until his death on
7 March 1875.
- 1. Stephen L. Keck, Sir Arthur Helps and the Making of Victorianism, (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013), vii; E. A. Helps, Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, (London: John Lane, 1917), 1.
- 2. E. A. Helps, Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, (London: John Lane, 1917), 3; Privy Council: United Kingdom Government, Encyclopedia Britannica.
- 3. Stephen L. Keck, Sir Arthur Helps and the Making of Victorianism, (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013), 163-164.
- 4. E. A. Helps, Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, (London: John Lane, 1917), 5, 10.
- 5. Stephen L. Keck, Sir Arthur Helps and the Making of Victorianism, (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013), 4, 233; E. A. Helps, Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, (London: John Lane, 1917), 4-6.
- 6. Stephen L. Keck, Sir Arthur Helps and the Making of Victorianism, (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013), 6-7; E. A. Helps, Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, (London: John Lane, 1917), viii.
- 7. Ibid., 10-12.