SELBORNE, WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE PALMER, 2ND EARL OF (1859— ), son of the preceding, was educated at Winchester and University College, Oxford, where he took a first class in history. In 1883, being then Viscount Wolmer, he married Lady Beatrix Cecil, 3rd daughter of the 3rd marquess of Salis bury. From 1895 to 1900 he was under-secretary for the colonies, under Chamberlain as his chief. He sat in the House of Commons for East Hants (1885-92), and for West Edinburgh (1892-95). In 1900 he entered the cabinet as first lord of the admiralty, and in 1905 he succeeded Lord Milner as high commissioner for South Africa and governor of the Transvaal and Orange River colonies. He assumed office at Pretoria in May of that year. He had gone out with the intention of guiding the destinies of South Africa during a period when the ex-Boer republics would be in a transi tional state between crown colony government and self-govern ment, and letters patent were issued granting the Transvaal representative institutions. But the Liberal party came into office in England in the December following, before the new constitution had been actually established, and the decision was now taken to give both the Transvaal and Orange River colonies self-govern ment without delay. Lord Selborne loyally accepted the changed situation, and his moderation and good sense helped to make the new regime a success. He left South Africa in May 1910, on the
eve of the establishment of the Union of South Africa which he had done so much to promote. On his return to England, Sel borne took an active share in defending the House against liberal attack, and was one of the leading "diehards" who maintained an uncompromising resistance to the Parliament bill. During the World War he joined the first Coalition ministry in May 1915, as minister of agriculture. He appointed an expert agricultural committee under the chairmanship of Lord Milner, to report on the means of maintaining and increasing food production in Eng land and Wales; but he and the government rejected their recom mendation to guarantee farmers a minimum price of 45s. a quarter for four years. In June 1916 he resigned his office because he disapproved of the Irish policy of compromise accepted by Asquith's government. He did not join Lloyd George's ministry. After the war he promoted the movement of self-government in the Church which culminated in the Church Enabling Act of 1919. He also identified himself strongly with the policy of reforming the House of Lords and reconsidering the relations between the two Houses under the Parliament Act.