Background
Rendel was born at Plymouth, Devon, the son of the civil engineer James Meadows Rendel and his wife Catherine Jane, daughter of W. J. Harris.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Rendel was born at Plymouth, Devon, the son of the civil engineer James Meadows Rendel and his wife Catherine Jane, daughter of W. J. Harris.
He was educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford, graduating in 1856 with a fourth-class degree in classical studies.
Rendel was also involved in business and was a benefactor to University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, and served as its president from 1895 to 1913. He was the brother of Alexander Meadows Rendel and George Wightwick Rendel. He was called to the Bar in 1861, but he was mostly involved in engineering, becoming manager of the London branch of the Armstrong gunnery company.
Although an Englishman and an Anglican, he was popular in his Welsh-speaking constituency, and was nicknamed "the member for Wales" because of his vocal support for Welsh-related causes, such as the creation of the University of Wales.
He also supported disestablishment. On his retirement from the House of Commons in 1894 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Rendel, of Hatchlands in the County of Surrey.
Apart from his political career Rendel was a benefactor to University College of Wales at Aberystwyth and served as its president from 1895 to 1913. Rendel married Ellen Sophy, daughter of William Egerton Hubbard, in 1857.
They had four daughters.
In 1888 Rendel acquired Hatchlands Park in Surrey from the Sumner family. Lady Rendel died in May 1912, aged 74. Rendel survived her by just over a year and died at his London home, 10 Palace Green, Kensington Palace Gardens, in June 1913, aged 78.
The peerage became extinct on his death as he had no sons.
Their only son, Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel inherited Hatchlands and became a celebrated architect.
22nd United Kingdom Parliament. 23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 24th United Kingdom Parliament.
25th United Kingdom Parliament]
He sat as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire between 1880 and 1894 and was recognised as the leader of the Welsh MPs.
Rendel was the Liberal Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire between 1880 and his retirement in March 1894. A close friend and associate of William Ewart Gladstone, he was recognised as the leader of the Welsh members of parliament.