BARON (1832-1918), British statesman and man of letters, eldest son of J. S. Courtney, a banker, was born at Penzance on July 6, 183 2. He won a sizarship at St. John's college, Cambridge, gradu ated second senior wrangler, and became a fellow of his college. Called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1858 he devoted himself to economics and journalism, and in 1865 became leader-writer on The Times under Delane. He was professor of political economy at University college, London, from 1872 to 1875. He entered the House of Commons for Liskeard, Cornwall, in 1876, and sat continuously for that district until 5900. Courtney belonged to the Radical school of Chamberlain and Dilke. He held under-secre taryships in the Gladstone Government of 188o, but resigned in 1884 because the new Franchise bill did not include provision for proportional representation, of which principle he was a lifelong advocate. Courtney separated from Gladstone on the introduction of the Home Rule bill in 1886, but as time went on he found him self less and less in sympathy with his Unionist colleagues on other than Irish questions. On Gladstone's nomination he had be come chairman of committee and deputy-speaker of the House of Commons in 1886. He retired in 1892, and his opposition to the Boer War led to his defeat at Liskeard in 1900. On the Liberal victory in 1906 Courtney was made a peer. In the House of Lords he sat on the Liberal benches, and frequently spoke on im perial and foreign questions. He distrusted the foreign policy of Sir Edward Grey, and during the progress of the World War continually urged the search for any avenue of peace. He died on May 11, 1918, six months before the Armistice, and up to the time of his death pleaded for a peace of reconciliation. Court ney married in 1883 Miss Catherine Potter, who, like her hus band, was a prominent member of the peace movement. Much of his best work was given to the periodical press; among his separate publications may be mentioned The Working Constitu tion of the United Kingdom (1901) .
See G. P. Gooch, Life of Lord Courtney (192o).