Lionel Edward Gresley CARDEN

September 15, 1851 (age 64)

Brighton, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom

In 1877 Carden was appointed the vice-consul in Havana and held a number of diplomatic posts around Central America. Lionel Carden played a central part in an extraordinary plot by Lord Salisbury, then prime minister, to foil Parnell’s remarkably successful Home Rule campaign in the 1880s by attempting to prove Parnell’s complicity in criminal activities. Salisbury sought to imply that Parnell encouraged the Phoenix Park murders in 1882, and that he was linked to the dynamite outrages in England which culminated in a bomb in the House of Commons in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria"s Golden Jubilee. These claims were ultimately disproved in a dramatic hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in 1889. The principal organiser of the outrages was a certain General Millen who became chairman of the military arm of the American activists. What was kept secret was that in 1885 Lionel Carden, then acting chargé d"affaires at Her Majesty Legation in Mexico, interviewed General Millen and with government approval recruited him as a spy, and became his paymaster. Through intermediaries General Millen was directed by Lord Salisbury to ensure that the dynamite explosions continued, thereby creating public outrage against Irish nationalists and Parnell. General Millen met Lionel Carden again in 1888 with an offer, for a very large sum of money, to appear as a witness at the hearing mentioned above, which was about to take place. In May 1902 Carden was appointed British Minister Resident to Cuba, serving as such until 1905, when he transferred as British Ambassador to Guatemala. In 1913 he was recalled from Mexico after his criticism of Woodrow Wilson. Carden died on 16 October 1915 in London at age 64, without issue.

Lionel Edward Gresley CARDEN

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Diplomat

Background

CARDEN, Lionel Edward Gresley was born on September 15, 1851. Son of Reverend Lionel Carden of Barnane, Company Tipperary, and Lucy Lawrence Ottley.

Education

He was educated at Eton College.

Career

In 1877 Carden was appointed the vice-consul in Havana and held a number of diplomatic posts around Central America. Lionel Carden played a central part in an extraordinary plot by Lord Salisbury, then prime minister, to foil Parnell’s remarkably successful Home Rule campaign in the 1880s by attempting to prove Parnell’s complicity in criminal activities. Salisbury sought to imply that Parnell encouraged the Phoenix Park murders in 1882, and that he was linked to the dynamite outrages in England which culminated in a bomb in the House of Commons in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria"s Golden Jubilee.

These claims were ultimately disproved in a dramatic hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in 1889.

The principal organiser of the outrages was a certain General Millen who became chairman of the military arm of the American activists. What was kept secret was that in 1885 Lionel Carden, then acting chargé d"affaires at Her Majesty Legation in Mexico, interviewed General Millen and with government approval recruited him as a spy, and became his paymaster.

Through intermediaries General Millen was directed by Lord Salisbury to ensure that the dynamite explosions continued, thereby creating public outrage against Irish nationalists and Parnell. General Millen met Lionel Carden again in 1888 with an offer, for a very large sum of money, to appear as a witness at the hearing mentioned above, which was about to take place.

In May 1902 Carden was appointed British Minister Resident to Cuba, serving as such until 1905, when he transferred as British Ambassador to Guatemala.

In 1913 he was recalled from Mexico after his criticism of Woodrow Wilson. Carden died on 16 October 1915 in London at age 64, without issue.

Achievements

He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Street George (Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George) in 1912.

Membership

Club: Saint James’son

Club: St. James’s.

Connections

Father:: Lionel Carden
Mother:: Lucy Lawrence Ottley

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Born

September 15, 1851

Brighton, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom
Died

October 16, 1915 (aged 64)
Nationality
United Kingdom

Awards

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Order of St Michael and St George

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.

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