Background
Matthew Wood was the son of William Wood, a serge maker from Exeter and Tiverton, and his wife Catherine Cluse (died 1809).
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Matthew Wood
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated briefly at Blundell"s School, before being obliged to help his ailing father. He was apprenticed to his cousin, an Exeter chemist and druggist, but moved to London in 1790 to set himself up in business.
Career
He held the seat until his death in 1843. Wood was a prominent partisan and adviser of Queen Caroline on her return to England in 1820, a not uncontroversial role. Greville noted acerbically in his diary on 7 June 1820:
”The Queen arrived in London yesterday at seven o’clock… She travelled in an open landau, Alderman Wood sitting by her side and Lady Anne Hamilton and another woman opposite.
Everybody was disgusted at the vulgarity of Wood in sitting in the place of honour, while the Duke of Hamilton’s sister was sitting backwards in the carriage.”
He was made a Baronet in 1837, of Hatherley House in Gloucestershire, the name of his country seat.
On 5 November 1795, Wood married Maria Page, the daughter of John Page from Woodbridge in Suffolk. They had six children:
Maria-Elizabeth (born 1798)
Catharine (born 1799)
William (1801–1881), later Lord Hatherley, became a barrister, a Liberal Member of Parliament, and served as Lord Chancellor from 1868 to 1872
Western (1804–1863), Member of Parliament for the City of London 1861-1863
Henry-Wright (born 1806), died an infant
Popularly known as Kitty O"Shea, her relationship with the Irish leader Charles Stewart Parnell led to a political scandal which caused his downfall.
Achievements
Membership
Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. Court of Aldermen; 5th United Kingdom Parliament. 6th United Kingdom Parliament.
7th United Kingdom Parliament.
8th United Kingdom Parliament. 9th United Kingdom Parliament.
10th United Kingdom Parliament. 11th United Kingdom Parliament.
12th United Kingdom Parliament.
13th United Kingdom Parliament. 14th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, a member of the Court of Aldermen of the City of London, Sheriff of the City of London for 1809 and Lord Mayor of London from 1815 to 1817. He was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament for the City of London at a by-election in June 1817, following the resignation of Harvey Christian Combe Member of Parliament.
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Born
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Died
September 25, 1843 (aged 75) -
Nationality
United Kingdom
Awards
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Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour 'in the face of the enemy' to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour 'in the face of the enemy' to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.