Arthur FitzGerald Kinnaird

1814-1887

The 10th Lord Kinnaird was a Scottish banker and Liberal politician. He rose to become managing partner of Ransom, Bouverie & Co., a banking firm, (later to become Barclays Bank). He continued in this role once he was elected to Parliament. In 1868, he was elected as President of the National Bible Society of Scotland after the resignation of George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll. Kinnaird sat as Member of Parliament for Perth from 1837 to 1839 and again from 1852 to 1878 for the Whigs. He was an avid supporter of Prime Minister Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, which led to him being nicknamed "Palmerston's shadow". During his time in office, he was known for his desire to seek more representation for Scotland within Parliament. In 1878 he succeeded his elder brother in the Scottish lordship as well as in the barony of Kinnaird and took his seat in the House of Lords. Lord Kinnaird married Mary Jane (Hoare) Kinnaird (1816–1888), daughter of William Henry Hoare, in 1843. They had seven children out of whom six grew to adulthood. They settled in London and every Wednesday they would invite discussion on philanthropic projects. They raised funds for the Lock Hospital and Asylum which she and her husband supported. He was a strong supporter of women's suffrage, but his wife felt that this was not in keeping with her idea of a woman's role. She did not speak in public but it is speculated that she wrote his speeches. In 1847, Kinnaird represented the British Association for the Relief of Distress in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland, in distributing relief to the Scottish poor. He was treasurer of the Highland Emigration Fund.  In 1856 he and their five children went to live above the bank where he worked in Pall Mall East. This new home became another centre for good works. Lord Kinnaird died in April 1887, aged 72, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Arthur Fitzgerald. Lady Kinnaird died the following year.