Henry Arthur Herbert

Colonel Henry Arthur Herbert PC (1815 – 26 February 1866), was an Anglo-Irish politician in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Early life Herbert was the son of Charles John Herbert (1785–1823) and Louisa Anne Herbert (1796–1828, née Middleton), who was the daughter of Nathaniel Middleton.

Herbert's paternal grandfather was Henry Arthur Herbert (1756–1821), MP for Kerry from 1806 to 1813, and his grandmother, Anne, was the daughter of a "Jamaican of colour" named Elizabeth Augier.

He was educated at Eton and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1835.

Career Herbert was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kerry from 1847 until his death, and served as Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1857 to 1858. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Kerry in 1853.

In Dublin, Herbert was a member of the Kildare Street Club.

Personal life Herbert's family owned the Muckross Estate near Killarney in County Kerry. In September 1837, Herbert married the artist Mary Balfour, whom he had met in Rome. The couple moved to Torc Cottage (in the Muckross Estate) after their wedding. Mary brought a large dowry to the marriage, and in 1839 they began construction of the large Muckross House. It was finished in 1843, shortly before the Great Famine.

They had four children:

Eleanor Herbert (1839–1907), who married Thomas Blackborne Thoroton-Hildyard, eldest son of Thomas Thoroton-Hildyard, MP for South Nottinghamshire. Henry Arthur Herbert (1840–1901), who married Hon. Emily Julia Charlotte Keane, the daughter of Edward Keane, 2nd Baron Keane. Charles Herbert (1842–1891) Blanche Herbert (1846–1920).

Herbert is buried in Killegy graveyard, near Muckross village.