Sir William Almeric FitzRoy
ELDEST SON OF HORATIO FITZROY
Research and text by Dr Richard Johnston
Sir Almeric FitzRoy was born Nov 12th 1851, educated initially at Cheam, but left after contracting rhumatic fever, which precluded vigorous activity. This gave him a taste for literary pursuits, and he went to Balliol College Oxford from 1870 to 1874, where he associated with many men who were to become prominent. He took the top first in Modern History. He then spent a few months travelling in Europe, before reading law with a barrister for an examination in November 1875 in an unsuccessful attempt to gain an All Souls College fellowship like his father. From 1876-83 he was an Inspector of Schools for Wiltshire in the Education Department of the Privy Council.
In 1884 he was promoted in 1884 to a London job, before becoming a Permanent Private Secretary in 1885, so becoming closely and actively involved in politics until 1892 when he returned to the Education Department, following the General Election. He became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Lord President of the Privy Council (the 8th Duke of Devonshire) in 1895, and was promoted to be Clerk to the Privy Council (equivalent to Permanent Secretary) on August 9th 1898, at the age of 47, and he retired on May 31st 1923 at the age of 72, having served under Queen Victoria, and Kings Edward VII and George V. He was knighted for his services.
Sir Almeric was very keen on fox hunting and when living in Wiltshire he would return to Yateley each weekend for a days hunting with Mr Garth's hounds. He also travelled extensively, on land and sea. In addition to his burdensome public duties, while a civil servant, he found time to publish historical research on the Acts of the Privy
Council.
After his retirement, he published The History of the Privy Council, as well as his memoirs, still a useful historical source for the political history of the period, as well as a history of the Travellers Club of which he was a member, like his father.
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