Sir Algernon West

1832 – 1921

The Rt Hon Sir Algernon Edward West was the son of Martin John West and Lady Maria Walpole, daughter of the second Earl of Orford. In 1858, he married Mary Elizabeth Caroline Barrington. In 1861 he became Private Secretary to Gladstone between. He held the offices of Member of Parliament (MP), of Justice of the Peace (JP) for Middlesex, and of Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue. In 1886 he was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the Bath (KCB), and in 1902 he was invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (GCB). He was also a director of the South Easten Railway. From 1880, he lived at the manor at Wanborough, Surrey. West entertained many political figures at the manor including Gladstone, Queen Victoria and Bismarck. In 1900, Wanborough Manor was passed on to H. H. Asquith until he became Prime Minister. In 1908, West returned to stay in the manor until his death in 1921.