# George Tierney

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Irish politician

The Right Honourable George Tierney Treasurer of the Navy In office 1803–1804 Monarch George III Prime Minister Henry Addington Preceded by Charles Bragge Succeeded by George Canning President of the Board of Control In office 1806–1807 Monarch George III Prime Minister The Lord Grenville Preceded by Thomas Grenville Succeeded by Hon. Robert Dundas Master of the Mint In office 1827–1828 Monarch George IV Prime Minister George Canning The Viscount Goderich Preceded by Hon. William Wellesley-Pole Succeeded by John Charles Herries Personal details Born (1761-03-20)20 March 1761 Gibraltar Died 25 January 1830(1830-01-25) (aged 68) Savile Row, London Party Whig Alma mater Peterhouse, Cambridge

**George Tierney** [PC](/source/Her_Majesty's_Most_Honourable_Privy_Council) (20 March 1761 – 25 January 1830) was an [Irish](/source/Irish_people) [Whig](/source/Whig_(British_political_faction)) politician. For much of his career he was in opposition to the governments of [William Pitt](/source/William_Pitt_the_Younger) and [Lord Liverpool](/source/Lord_Liverpool). From 1818 to 1821 he was [Leader of the Opposition](/source/Leader_of_the_Opposition_(United_Kingdom)) in the [House of Commons](/source/British_House_of_Commons).

## Background and education

Born in [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar), Tierney was the son of Thomas Tierney, a wealthy Irish merchant of London, who was living in [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar) as [prize agent](/source/Prize_agent). He was sent to [Eton](/source/Eton_College) and [Peterhouse, Cambridge](/source/Peterhouse%2C_Cambridge), where he took the degree of Law in 1784.[1] He was called to the bar from [Lincoln's Inn](/source/Lincoln's_Inn) in the same year,[1] but abandoned law and plunged into politics.[2] On 10 July 1789 he married Anna Maria Miller of Stapleton in [Gloucestershire](/source/Gloucestershire); she died in 1844.[3]

## Political career

In *Le Boureau* (1798), [James Gillray](/source/James_Gillray) caricatured Tierney as a French executioner.

### Early career

Tierney contested [Colchester](/source/Colchester_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) in 1788, when both candidates received the same number of votes, but Tierney was declared elected. He was, however, defeated in the [1790 general election](/source/1790_British_general_election).[2]

He returned to Parliament in 1796 for [Southwark](/source/Southwark_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) and sat for that seat until 1806, and then represented in turn [Athlone](/source/Athlone_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) (1806–1807), [Bandon](/source/Bandon_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) (1807–1812), [Appleby](/source/Appleby_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) (1812–1818), and [Knaresborough](/source/Knaresborough_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) (1818–1830).[2] During his early years in Parliament he was known for his [radical](/source/Radicals_(UK)) views and was a supporter of [Charles James Fox](/source/Charles_James_Fox). The [French Revolution](/source/French_Revolution) of 1789 was a polarising force in British Whig politics with some supporting the revolution, and others such as [Edmund Burke](/source/Edmund_Burke) strongly opposed to it. Because of his radical views, Tierney was often portrayed in [caricatures](/source/Caricature) in the costume of a French revolutionary.

### Duel

When [Charles James Fox](/source/Charles_James_Fox) seceded from the [House of Commons](/source/House_of_Commons_of_Great_Britain), Tierney emerged as one of the most prominent opponents of [William Pitt](/source/William_Pitt_the_younger)'s foreign policy. In May 1798, Pitt accused him of want of patriotism. A [duel](/source/Duel) ensued at [Putney Heath](/source/Putney_Heath) on Sunday, 27 May 1798; but neither combatant was injured.[2]

### Office

In 1803, Tierney, partly because peace had been ratified with France at [Amiens](/source/Treaty_of_Amiens), and partly because Pitt was out of office, joined the ministry of [Henry Addington](/source/Henry_Addington) as [Treasurer of the Navy](/source/Treasurer_of_the_Navy), and was created a [Privy Councillor](/source/Privy_Councillor); but this alienated many of his supporters among the middle classes, and offended most of the influential Whigs. On the death of Fox in 1806 he joined [William Grenville](/source/William_Wyndham_Grenville%2C_1st_Baron_Grenville)'s [Ministry of All the Talents](/source/Ministry_of_All_the_Talents) as [President of the Board of Control](/source/President_of_the_Board_of_Control), with a seat in the cabinet, and thus brought himself once more into line with the Whigs.[2] He left office the following year when Grenville's government fell and was replaced by the Tories, who were to dominate office for the next generation. Tierney was in opposition for the following twenty years.

### Opposition

About a year after the death of [George Ponsonby](/source/George_Ponsonby) in 1817, Tierney reluctantly became the recognised leader of the opposition in the House of Commons. At first he was successful, with Whig gains being made at the [1818 general election](/source/1818_United_Kingdom_general_election). On 18 May 1819, Tierney moved a motion in the House of Commons for a committee on the state of the nation. This motion was defeated by 357 to 178, which was a division involving the largest number of MPs until the debates over the Reform bill in the early 1830s. Foord comments that "this defeat put an effective end to Tierney's leadership... Tierney did not disclaim the leadership until 23 Jan. 1821 ..., but he had ceased to exercise its functions since the great defeat".

### Final years

Late in his career Tierney joined the government of Tory [George Canning](/source/George_Canning).

In [George Canning](/source/George_Canning)'s ministry, he was [Master of the Mint](/source/Master_of_the_Mint), and when [Lord Goderich](/source/Frederick_Robinson%2C_1st_Earl_of_Ripon) succeeded to the lead Tierney was admitted to the cabinet; but he was already suffering from ill-health and died suddenly at [Savile Row](/source/Savile_Row), London.[4][2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Venn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Venn_1-1) ["Tierney, George (TNY778G)"](https://venn.lib.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/search-2018.pl?sur=&suro=w&fir=&firo=c&cit=&cito=c&c=all&z=all&tex=TNY778G&sye=&eye=&col=all&maxcount=50). *A Cambridge Alumni Database*. University of Cambridge.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_2-5) [Chisholm 1911](#CITEREFChisholm1911).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Burke, Edmund (1845). ["Appendix to Chronicle - Deaths - March"](https://books.google.com/books?id=jc0kh800jGIC&q=george+tierney+anna+maria+miller&pg=RA2-PA225). *The Annual Register, or a View of the History and Politics of the Year 1844*. **86**: 225.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHamilton1898_4-0)** [Hamilton 1898](#CITEREFHamilton1898).

**Attribution:**

- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). "[Tierney, George](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Tierney,_George)". *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 964.

- Hamilton, John Andrew (1898). ["Tierney, George"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Tierney,_George). In [Lee, Sidney](/source/Sidney_Lee) (ed.). *[Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography)*. Vol. 56. London: [Smith, Elder & Co](/source/Smith%2C_Elder_%26_Co). p. 385-386.

## Sources

- *Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland 1801–1922*, edited by B. M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978).

- *His Majesty's Opposition 1714–1830*, by Archibald S. Foord (Oxford University Press 1964)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [George Tierney](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:George_Tierney).

- *[Hansard](/source/Hansard)* 1803–2005: [contributions in Parliament by George Tierney](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-george-tierney)

- ["Archival material relating to George Tierney"](https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F64535). [UK National Archives](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)).

Parliament of Great Britain Preceded by Sir Edmund Affleck, Bt Sir Robert Smyth, Bt H Member of Parliament for Colchester 1788–1790 With: Sir Robert Smyth, Bt Succeeded by Robert Thornton George Jackson Preceded by Henry Thornton George Thellusson Member of Parliament for Southwark 1796–1800 With: Henry Thornton Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain Member of Parliament for Southwark 1801–1806 With: Henry Thornton Succeeded by Henry Thornton Sir Thomas Turton, Bt Preceded by Thomas Tyrwhitt Jones Member of Parliament for Athlone 1806–1807 Succeeded by Hon. Henry Wellesley Preceded by Viscount Boyle Member of Parliament for Bandon 1807–1812 Succeeded by Richard Bernard Preceded by John Courtenay James Lowther Member of Parliament for Appleby 1812–1818 With: James Lowther Succeeded by George Fludyer Lucius Concannon Preceded by Lord John Townshend Viscount Ossulston Member of Parliament for Knaresborough 1818–1830 With: Sir James Mackintosh Succeeded by Sir James Mackintosh Henry Brougham Political offices Preceded by Charles Bragge Treasurer of the Navy 1803–1804 Succeeded by George Canning Preceded by Thomas Grenville President of the Board of Control 1806–1807 Succeeded by Hon. Robert Dundas Preceded by Hon. William Wellesley-Pole Master of the Mint 1827–1828 Succeeded by John Charles Herries Preceded by George Ponsonby Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons 1818–1821 Vacant Title next held by Viscount Althorp from 1830 Party political offices Preceded by George Ponsonby Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Commons 1818–1821 Vacant Title next held by Viscount Althorp from 1830

v t e Leaders of the opposition of the United Kingdom House of Commons Fox Howick Ponsonby Tierney Peel Althorp Peel Russell Peel Russell Bentinck Granby Granby/Herries/Disraeli Disraeli Russell Disraeli Palmerston Disraeli Gladstone Disraeli Gladstone Hartington Northcote Gladstone Hicks Beach Gladstone Balfour Harcourt Campbell-Bannerman Balfour Chamberlain Balfour Law Vacant Carson Asquith Maclean Asquith MacDonald Baldwin MacDonald Baldwin Henderson Lansbury Attlee Lees-Smith Pethick-Lawrence Greenwood Attlee Churchill Attlee Morrison Gaitskell Brown Wilson Douglas-Home Heath Wilson Heath Thatcher Callaghan Foot Kinnock Smith Beckett Blair Major Hague Duncan Smith Howard Cameron Harman Miliband Harman Corbyn Starmer Sunak Badenoch House of Lords Grenville Grey 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne Wellington 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne Wellington Melbourne Wellington Melbourne 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne Stanley 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne Derby (Stanley) Granville Derby Russell Granville Malmesbury Cairns Richmond Granville Beaconsfield 3rd Marquess of Salisbury Granville 3rd Marquess of Salisbury Granville Kimberley 3rd Marquess of Salisbury Rosebery Kimberley Spencer Ripon 5th Marquess of Lansdowne Crewe Curzon of Kedleston Haldane Parmoor 4th Marquess of Salisbury Hailsham Parmoor Ponsonby of Shulbrede Snell Addison 5th Marquess of Salisbury Addison Jowitt Alexander of Hillsborough Carrington Shackleton Carrington Peart Cledwyn of Penrhos Richard Cranborne Strathclyde Royall of Blaisdon Smith of Basildon True

v t e Masters of the Royal Mint (1331–1879) House of Plantagenet (1216–1399) Richard de Snowshill/Richard of Grimsby (1331) Henry de Bruselee and John Chichester (1351–?) Walter dei Bardi (1361–1361) John Chichester (1365–1367) Walter dei Bardi (1375–1391) John Wildeman (1391–1391) Houses of Lancaster and York (1399–1485) Richard Garner (1411–1414) Sir Lewis John (1413–1414) Sir Lewis John (1418–1420) Bartholomew Goldbeter (1421–1432) John Paddesley (1435–1446) Robert Manfield (1446–1459) Sir Richard Tonstall (1459–1461) William Hastings (1461–April 1483) Sir Robert Brackenbury (April–June 1483) Sir Robert Brackenbury (June 1483–1485) House of Tudor (1485–1603) Sir Giles Daubeney (1485–1490) Sir Bartholomew Reed and Robert Fenrother (1492–1498) 4th Baron Mountjoy (1509–1534) Ralph Rowlet/Sir Martin Bowes (1543) Sir Martin Bowes (1544) Sir John York (1547–1553) Thomas Egerton (1553–1555) Sir Thomas Stanley (1560–1571) John Lonyson (1571–1582) Sir Richard Martin (1582–1603) House of Stuart (1603–1649) Sir Richard Martin (1603–1609) Sir Edward Villiers (1617–1623) Sir Randal Cranfield (1623–1626) Sir Robert Harley (1626–1635) Sir Ralph Freeman/Sir Thomas Aylesbury (1635–1643) Sir Robert Harley (1643–1649) Interregnum (1649–1660) Aaron Guerdon (1649–1653) House of Stuart (1660–1714) Sir Ralph Freeman (1660–1662) Sir Ralph Freeman/Henry Slingsby (1662–1667) Henry Slingsby (1667–1680) Sir John Buckworth/Charles Duncombe/James Hoare (1680–1684) Thomas Neale/Charles Duncombe/James Hoare (1684–1686) Thomas Neale (1686–1699) Sir Isaac Newton (1700–1714) House of Hanover (1714–1901) Sir Isaac Newton (1714–1727) John Conduitt (1727–1737) Hon. Richard Arundell (1737–1745) 3rd Viscount Chetwynd (1745–1769) 1st Earl Cadogan (1769–1784) 3rd Earl of Effingham (1784–1789) 5th Earl of Chesterfield (1789–1790) 2nd Marquess Townshend (1790–1794) Sir George Yonge (1794–1799) 2nd Earl of Liverpool (1799–1801) 2nd Baron Arden (1801–1802) John Smyth (1802–1804) 3rd Earl Bathurst (1804–1806) Lord Charles Spencer (1806) Charles Bathurst (1806–1807) 3rd Earl Bathurst (1807–1812) 2nd Earl of Clancarty (1812–1814) 3rd Earl of Mornington (1814–1823) 1st Baron Wallace (1823–1827) George Tierney (1827–1828) John Charles Herries (1828–1830) 1st Earl of Auckland (1830–1834) 1st Baron Dunfermline (1834–1835) 1st Baron Ashburton (1835) 1st Baron Taunton (1835–1841) William Ewart Gladstone (1841–1845) Sir George Clerk (1845–1846) Richard Lalor Sheil (1846–1850) Sir John Herschel (1850–1855) Thomas Graham (1855–1869) Vacant (1869–1879) Office abolished in 1879 with duties given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [George Tierney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tierney) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tierney?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.