Background
Horner was born on the 12th of August, 1778 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of John Horner a linen merchant and his wife Joanna Baillie. His younger brother was Leonard Horner.
journalist lawyer politician statesman political economist
Horner was born on the 12th of August, 1778 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of John Horner a linen merchant and his wife Joanna Baillie. His younger brother was Leonard Horner.
Horner studied at University of Edinburgh, where he was praised by Professor Dugald Stewart as an intellectual all-rounder. He left the university in 1795.
In May 1799 Horner read Henry Addington's speech in favour of the union with Ireland. He qualified as an advocate in Scotland in 1800 and in England in 1807. In 1802, Horner was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Review, and in the next few years he would contribute fourteen articles to that journal. Here he became acquainted with fellow Whig journalists. Horner was MP for St. Ives in 1806, Wendover in 1807, and St. Mawes in 1812. He translated Leonhard Euler's Elements of Algebra in 1797 and revised Henry Bennet's Short Account of a late Short Administration for publication in 1807. Horner was offered a Treasury secretaryship in 1811 when Lord Grenville was attempting to form a ministry, which he refused as he would not accept office until he was wealthy enough to survive out of office. Horner's proposed Bill for regulation grand juries on indictments in Ireland was passed in 1816 and became law. His proposal on 1 May to end the renewal of the Bank Restrictions Act was defeated in the Commons by 146 votes to 73, as was his proposals to authorise cash payments in two years' time. He struggled to earn a living and in October 1816 his physicians advised him to visit Italy due to ill health. However, he died at Pisa a few months later.
A believer in political economy, Francis Horner criticised the Corn Laws and slavery in 1813-1815. On 20 March 1815 the City of London voted thanks to him for his critique of protectionism. After Napoleon's defeat in 1814, he criticised the peace settlement as "the plunder of Europe" by the "robbers of Vienna".
Horner never married and had no children.