CHAPLIN, HENRY CHAPLIN, 1ST VISCOUNT (184o 1923), English statesman, son of the Rev. Henry Chaplin, of Blankney, Lincolnshire, was born Dec. 22, 1840, and died May 29, 1923. He was educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford. Entering parliament in 1868, he sat as Conservative member, first for Mid-Lincolnshire (1868-1906), and then for Wimbledon. As the typical English country gentleman, the "Squire of Blank ney" was one of the leaders of the agricultural interest. He was chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster (1885-86) and president of the new Board of Agriculture (1889-92) ; as president of the Local Government Board (1895-1900) he was responsible for the Agricultural Rates Act of 1896, and he was a member of Mr. Chamberlain's Tariff Commission. During the Coalition govern ment of 1915, Chaplin was the leader of the nominal opposition until his elevation to the peerage in 1916.
See E. Stewart, Henry Chaplin (1926).