Guide to the Papers of Lord Tennyson, 1895-1919

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 479
Creator:
Hallam Tennyson
Extent:
2 metres and (9 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Lord Tennyson, National Library of Australia, MS 479, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
Papers of Hallam, 2nd Baron Tennyson; his wife Audrey Georgina Florence, Lady Tennyson; Alfred Aubrey Tennyson, 2nd son of Hallam; Zacyntha Boyle, mother of Lady Tennyson; and miscellaneous papers. The papers consist of diaries, commissions, secret despatches, family correspondence, correspondence relating to administration and defence, telegrams, drafts of speeches, accounts, newspaper cuttings, invitations, photographs and passports.
Biographical Note:

Hallam, 2nd Baron Tennyson, was the oldest surviving son of Alfred, 1st Baron Tennyson, Poet Laureate, and Emily Tennyson (nee Sollwood). He was born at Twickenham on 11 August 1852, and educated at Marlborough College, Trinity College Cambridge, and the 'Inner Temple'. For many years he acted as his father's secretary, and following his father's death and his succeeding to the barony on 6 October 1892, he wrote a memoir of the poet. Later, as the 2nd Baron Tennyson, he was prepared to accept a colonial governorship - a fact which may not be unrelated to his father's interest in Imperial Federation. In 1899 he was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of South Australia. He took up office on 10 April 1899, and continued in it until 17 July 1902 (from 1 January 1901 - the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth - the designation 'Commander-in-Chief' was omitted from his title).

Lord Tennyson relinquished his position in South Australia in order to take up the appointment of Acting-Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, following the resignation of the 7th Earl of Hopetoun. Lord Tennyson served as Acting-Governor-General from17 July 1902 to 9 January 1903, from which latter date he was confirmed in the appointment. He continued to serve as Governor-General until 21 January 1904 when he returned to England. Lord Tennyson did not undertake any subsequent governorships, although in March 1903 he indicated his readiness to serve as the Governor-General of Canada, and in November 1905 he was offered the governorship of Madras. In 1901 while still in South Australia, Lord Tennyson was Deputy Governor of the Isle of Wight.

On 25 June 1884 Lord Tennyson married Audrey Georgiana Florence Boyle, daughter of Charles John Boyle and Zacyntha Boyle (née Moore), and had issue - 1. Lionel Hallam, born 7 November 1889, died 6 June 1951 (3rd Baron Tennyson) 2. Alfred Aubrey, born 2 May 1891, killed in action March 1918. 3. Harold Courtenay, born 27 April 1896, killed in action 29 January 1916.

Lady Tennyson died on 7 December 1916. Lord Tennyson married secondly, Mary Emily widow of Andrew Kinsman Hichens, and daughter of Charles Robert Princep, on 27 July 1918 (she died on 20 July 1931). Lord Tennyson died on 2 December 1928.

Lord Tennyson was created K.C.M.G. in 1899 and G.C.M.G. in 1903, and was made a Privy Councillor in 1905.

For additional biographical information, see the London Times of 3 December 1928, p.19, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage and Christopher Cunneen 'The role of Governor-General in Australia, 1901-1927' (PhD, Australian National University, 1973).

Provenance:

On 1 May 1957 a letter from the President of the Senate was addressed to Harold Christopher, 4th Baron Tennyson, requesting the transfer of any papers relating to Hallam, 2nd Baron Tennyson and his periods of office as Governor of South Australia and Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. On 9 May 1957 Lord Tennyson replied, stating his willingness to transfer such papers as were available, and pointing out that although classed as 'heirlooms' there was no objection to them being placed in the Commonwealth National Library 'on permanent loan'. In March of 1958 the Liaison Officer of the National Library in London reported that he had inspected the material and that arrangements for its shipment to Australia had been made. The material was received into the National Library early in June 1958, and a letter of thanks was sent to Lord Tennyson on 12 June 1958.

Indexed terms

Names:
Hallam Tennyson

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2245809).
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Lord Tennyson, National Library of Australia, MS 479, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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