A brief chronology of his life, family, work and legacy
A NOTE ON SOURCES. This section is based wherever possible on primary sources such as parish registers, census records, deeds, letters and diaries. We have also used the best available and reliable secondary sources, such as contemporary newspapers and well-researched and referenced published works. Inevitably there are gaps in information and contradictions between different sources, so we would welcome any feedback, corrections and additions to improve this section.
1770-1825: BEFORE WALTER BAGEHOT WAS BORN
Samuel Stuckey, Vincent’s uncle, started a ‘Bank’ at Bank House as part of his general business
Birth of Vincent Stuckey, WB’s uncle, in Langport, Somerset
Birth of Edith Stuckey, WB’s mother and Vincent’s sister
Birth of James Wilson, WB’s father-in-law, in Hawick, Roxburghshire
Marriage of Edith Stuckey & Joseph Prior Estlin (her 1st marriage)
1826-1877: WALTER BAGEHOT'S LIFETIME
Walter Bagehot was born at Bank House, Langport, Somerset, where his father was a Manager at Stuckey's Bank
Work began on building Herd's Hill, designed by Bridgwater architect, Richard Carver (who later moved to Taunton). Walter was taken as a baby to witness the laying of the foundation stone
Death of Watson Bagehot, Walter’s older half-brother
Robert & Mary Bagehot (Walter’s grandparents), moved into Herd's Hill by November
Birth of Elizabeth (Eliza) Wilson, Walter’s wife, in Southwark, Surrey
Walter Bagehot attended Langport Grammar School until 1839, where the Headmaster was William Quekett
Death of Robert Bagehot, Walter's grandfather. Thomas Watson Bagehot, Walter's father, inherited Herd's Hill
Walter's father dropped him off at Bristol College, where he studied Maths, German and Hebrew, until 1842
Birth of Emilie Isabel Wilson, Walter’s sister-in-law and biographer (‘Mrs Russell Barrington’), at Hertford Street, Mayfair, London
Walter studied at University College London until 1848
The Economist launched by James Wilson
Walter’s first foreign trip, to Germany, Belgium and Switzerland
Death of Vincent Stuckey, Walter’s uncle, in Langport. Vincent was the main architect of the success of Stuckey's Bank. On his death it was said that the circulation of Stuckey's banknotes was second only to that of the Bank of England
Walter was awarded a 1st Class BA in Classics, at University College London
James Wilson first elected to Parliament as Liberal MP for Westbury, Wiltshire
Walter’s first published work appeared: ‘Festus’, an article for Prospective Review on currency
Walter was awarded an MA and gold medal in philosophy, at University College London. Then he studied for the bar at Lincolns Inn, in the Chambers of Charles Hall
Eliza began her diary, which she kept until her death in 1921. Her first entry was written in German
Walter attended the opening of the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park by Queen Victoria. It took place under an enormous glass structure known as The Crystal Palace. Unbeknownst to him, his future wife Eliza Wilson was also there that day
Walter wrote to his mother after visiting the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace, describing it as “a great fair under a cucumber frame”
Walter was in Paris at the time of Louis Napoleon’s coup
Walter abandoned his law career to return to Langport, work in the family bank and look after his mother, who was unwell
Eliza began her journal, which she kept until 19 January 1855
Walter was called to the Bar at Lincolns Inn, but never practised
The Directors of Stuckey's Bank agree to Thomas Watson Bagehot's request that Walter be allowed to attend the Bank at Langport 'with a view to making himself acquainted with the business'. Read more
Walter and his friend, Richard Holt Hutton, founded and edited the National Review
Walter was appointed Secretary to the Stuckey’s Bank Committees of Management, Langport & Bristol
Walter first met Eliza Wilson at the Wilson family home, Claverton Manor, near Bath. You can find a detailed account of their courtship and wedding here.
Walter’s first contributions to The Economist, letters on banking
Walter became engaged to Eliza Wilson
Walter and Eliza Wilson exchanged engagement rings on her birthday while in Edinburgh
Walter married Eliza Wilson at Claverton Manor, Bath. They went to live at Bella Vista, Clevedon, which they renamed The Arches
James Wilson hosted a dinner party to celebrate the success of Walter's pamphlet Parliamentary Reform. Guests included Gladstone, Lord Grey and Thackeray
Walter and Eliza attended a party at Gladstone's home, strengthening his influence
James Wilson resigned as an MP to sit on the Council of India in Calcutta
Walter was made a director at The Economist
Walter was adopted for nomination for the parliamentary constituency of London University, but did not stand
Death of James Wilson, Walter’s father-in-law, in Calcutta, India
Walter was made a Justice of the Peace for Somerset
Walter became editor of The Economist. He resigned his managership of the Bristol branch of Stuckey's Bank
The Bagehots move into 12 Upper Belgrave St, London
Elected to the Political Economy Club
Walter was elected a Director of Stuckey's Bank
The first part of The English Constitution was published in Fortnightly Review
Walter refused the offer of nomination as Liberal for constituency of Dudley at the General Election. Initially he stood at Manchester but withdrew after poor campaigning
Walter was defeated as Liberal candidate for Bridgwater at a by-election by just 7 votes, 294 votes to 301. Read more here
Edith Bagehot (Walter's mother) was admitted to Brislington House lunatic asylum in Bristol after a breakdown. She remained there for almost three months
The English Constitution, his most significant work, was published
Walter was again offered for nomination for parliamentary constituency of London University but he deferred to Robert Lowe
Walter recuperated at Lyme Regis from severe bout of illness
Emilie Wilson (Eliza’s sister) married Russell Barrington in London. Walter & Eliza were witnesses
Guy Barrington, son of Emilie and Russell, was born in Wimbledon. Read more about him here.
Death of Vincent Estlin, Walter’s half brother, at Herd’s Hill
Walter gave oral evidence to the Royal Commission into bribery at Bridgwater elections, admitting that his team had spent money illegally. Read more here
Walter moved his London home from Upper Belgrave St to The Poplars, Wimbledon
Walter's mother, Edith Stuckey Bagehot, died at Herd's Hill, aged 83
Physics and Politics published; 2nd edition of The English Constitution published, with new preface
Lombard Street published
Walter refused the offer of nomination as Liberal candidate for Liverpool
Walter was elected as a member of the Athenaeum Club
Walter died at his home, Herd’s Hill, Langport. You can find his wife Eliza's account of his death here.
1877-: AFTER WALTER BAGEHOT'S DEATH
Walter's funeral service was held at St Mary's Church, Huish Episcopi, because All Saints' Church was undergoing restoration. His body was then brought to All Saints' and interred in the family vault. It was Maundy Thursday
Walter's widow, Eliza’s memorial West Window of All Saints’ Church, Langport was set in place
Death of Thomas Watson Bagehot, Walter’s father
Eliza began ‘extensive renovations’ of Herd’s Hill house and gardens
Death of Elizabeth Preston Wilson, Walter’s mother-in-law
The first collection of Walter’s works was published by Travelers Insurance Co, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
First article on Walter Bagehot by Woodrow Wilson, future US President, published in Atlantic Monthly: “A literary politician”
Walter's grave was visited by Woodrow Wilson, future US President
Second article on Walter Bagehot by Woodrow Wilson, future US President, published in Atlantic Monthly: “A wit and a seer”
Woodrow Wilson made his second visit to Walter's grave while he was on a cycling holiday
Death of Vincent Stuckey (formerly Vincent Stuckey Wood); sale of Hill House to the Sisters of St Gildas
Guy Barrington married Ida Geraldine Ford at St Andrew's Church, Curry Rivel
Works and Life of Walter Bagehot by Emilie Barrington, 10 vols, published
Stuckey’s Bank merged with Parr’s Bank; lost the right to issue its own banknotes
A stone plaque to Walter Bagehot was unveiled at his birthplace, Bank House, Langport, Somerset, by his friend and admirer, Viscount Bryce
Death of Russell Barrington, Walter’s brother-in-law
Death of Eliza Bagehot, Walter’s widow. Final entry in Eliza’s diary by her maid on Eliza’s death: “Dear Mrs Bagehot passed away at 5:45 in the morning”
Death of Emilie Barrington, Walter's sister-in-law and biographer (‘Mrs Russell Barrington’), at Herd's Hill, Langport, Somerset
The love letters of Walter Bagehot and Eliza Wilson, edited by Emilie Barrington, published
Herd’s Hill and its contents sold at auction
Exhibition of ‘Bagehotiana’ at The Economist’s offices, 25 St James’s Street, London SW1, to mark the publication of first volumes of St Stevas’ edition of Walter Bagehot’s collected works
Blue plaque to Walter Bagehot unveiled at 12 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1 by Harold Wilson, Prime Minister
Asteroid 2901 discovered by Lubos Kohoutek, later named after Walter Bagehot
Establishment of Knight-Bagehot Fellowships at Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York, USA, named in part after Walter Bagehot
Publication of final volumes of St John Stevas’ collected works of Walter Bagehot. Speech made by Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister, at The Economist
Bagehot Memorial Fund established by Langport Town Trust
Inaugural Bagehot Memorial Debate on the motion that 'This house believes that the monarch should have greater powers'
Over 50 people attended talks and an exhibition at Hurds Hill to discuss ways of commemorating Walter Bagehot in the town
Langport Town Trust agrees to rename the Town Garden after Walter Bagehot
Bagehot Interpretation Board unveiled in the Walter Bagehot Town Garden, Langport
Second Bagehot Memorial Debate on the motion that 'This house believes that the United Kingdom needs Scotland'
Third Bagehot Memorial Debate on the motion that ‘This house believes that mass communication is the enemy of truth and knowledge’
Hurds Hill: a brief history of the family home of Walter Bagehot, by Janet Seaton & Barry Winetrobe published
Fourth Bagehot Memorial Debate on the motion that ‘This house believes that it’s time for a new Magna Carta’
Formal agreement to transfer Bagehot Memorial Fund from Langport Town Trust to Langport & District History Society
Publication of a major new biography of Walter Bagehot, Bagehot: the life and times of the greatest Victorian, by the American financial journalist, James Grant