MILNES, Nall ARP MONCE:TON, Baron Houghton (1809-85). An English poet and poli tician. son of llobert Pemberton Milnes, of Frys ton Hall. near Wakefield, Yorkshire, born in London, June 19, 1809. He was educated at Trin ity College. Cambridge, where he was a member of the famous society called the 'Apostles,' which included Hallam and Tennyson. Soon after re-' ceiving the degree of M.A. (1831) he traveled in Germany and Italy and visited Greece. He returned to London in 1835. In 1837 he entered Parliament for Pontefract, which he continued to represent till 1863. when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Houghton. In politics he was at first a Conservative, hut on ]'eel's con version to free trade he Iwcame an Independent Liberal. He was an advocate of public education and religious equality; labored for copyright laws and the establishment of reformatories for juvenile offenders; and took a decided stand on the side of Italy against Austria. A friend of
literary men, he secured a pension for Tennyson, helped Hood. and was one of the first to recognize the merits of Swinburne. Throughout life he was an extensive traveler. In 1842-43 he visited the East. and in 1875 Canada and the United States. He died at Vichy, August II. 1885. Among Lord Houghton's works are: iIema'in1.s of a Tour in Some Parts of Greece, Chiefly Poetical (1834); Poems of Ilany (1838) ; Poems Legendary and Historical (1844) ; and Pa/Jib Leaves (1844). Ile contributed to the magazines, published several speeches and pam phlets, and edited 7'he Life, Letters, and Literary Remains of Keats (1848). Consult his interest ing ilonographs, Personal and Social (London. 1873) ; Collected Poetical Works (ib.. 18713) : the character of Vavasour in Disraeli's Tam-ed; and Reid. Life, Letters, and Friendship of R. 11. .17 Hues (London, 1890).