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 (WB) 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
Birth of WB at Bank House, Langport, Somerset
Birth of Emilie Isabel Wilson, WB’s sister-in-law and biographer (‘Mrs Russell Barrington’), at Hertford Street, Mayfair, London
WB studied at University College London until 1848
The Economist launched by James Wilson
WB awarded 1st Class BA in Classics, UCL
James Wilson first elected to Parliament as Liberal MP for Westbury, Wiltshire
WB’s first published work, ‘Festus’, an article for Prospective Review on currency
WB awarded MA and gold medal in philosophy, UCL. 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
After visiting the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace, WB described it in a letter to his mother as “a great fair under a cucumber frame”
WB in Paris, at the time of Louis Napoleon’s coup in December
WB 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
WB called to the Bar, Lincolns Inn
WB and his friend, Richard Holt Hutton, founded and edited National Review
WB made Secretary to the Stuckey’s Bank Committees of Management, Langport & Bristol
WB first met Eliza Wilson at the Wilson family home, Claverton Manor, near Bath
WB’s first writings for The Economist, letters on banking
WB became engaged to Eliza Wilson
WB and Eliza Wilson exchanged engagement rings while in Edinburgh
WB married Eliza Wilson at Claverton Manor, Bath. They went to live at Bella Vista, Clevedon, which they renamed The Arches
WB made one of the Managers of the Bristol branch of Stuckey’s Bank
James Wilson resigned as an MP to sit on the Council of India in Calcutta
WB made a director at The Economist
WB adopted for nomination for the parliamentary constituency of London University but did not stand
Death of James Wilson, WB’s father-in-law, in Calcutta, India
WB made a Justice of the Peace for Somerset
WB became editor of The Economist. Resigned his managership of the Bristol bank
The Bagehots move into 12 Upper Belgrave St, London
Elected to the Political Economy Club
First part of The English Constitution published in Fortnightly Review
WB refused the offer of nomination as Liberal for constituency of Dudley at General Election; initially stood at Manchester but withdrew after poor campaigning
WB defeated as Liberal candidate for Bridgwater at the General Election by just 7 votes, 294 votes to 301
Edith Bagehot (WB's mother) admitted to Brislington House lunatic asylum in Bristol after a breakdown. She remained there for almost three months
The English Constitution published
WB was again offered for nomination for parliamentary constituency of London University but deferred to Robert Lowe
Recuperated from severe illness at Lyme Regis
Emilie Wilson (Eliza’s sister) married Russell Barrington in London. WB & Eliza were witnesses
Guy Barrington born, son of Emilie and Russell, in Wimbledon
Death of Vincent Estlin, WB’s half brother, at Herd’s Hill
WB gave oral evidence to the Bridgwater Bribery Commission
Death of Edith Bagehot, WB’s mother, at Herd’s Hill
Moved his London home from Upper Belgrave St to The Poplars, Wimbledon
Physics and Politics published; 2nd edition of The English Constitution published, with new preface
Lombard Street published
WB refused the offer of nomination as Liberal candidate for Liverpool
WB elected member of the Athenaeum Club
WB left London for Langport for the last time
Death of WB at Herd’s Hill, Langport
WB buried, All Saints' Church, Langport
1877-: AFTER WALTER BAGEHOT'S DEATH
Eliza’s memorial West Window of All Saints’ Church, Langport set in place
Death of Thomas Watson Bagehot, WB’s father
Eliza began ‘extensive renovations’ of Herd’s Hill house and gardens
Death of Elizabeth Preston Wilson, WB’s mother-in-law
First collection of WB’s works published by Travelers Insurance Co, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
First article on WB by Woodrow Wilson, future US President, in Atlantic Monthly, “A literary politician”
WB grave visited by Woodrow Wilson, future US President
Second article on WB by Woodrow Wilson, future US President, in Atlantic Monthly, “A wit and a seer”
Death of Vincent Stuckey (formerly Vincent Stuckey Wood); sale of Hill House
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
Stone plaque to WB unveiled at his birthplace, Bank House, Somerset, by his friend and admirer, Viscount Bryce
Death of Russell Barrington, WB’s brother-in-law
Death of Eliza Bagehot, WB’s wife. 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, WB’s sister-in-law and biographer (‘Mrs Russell Barrington’), at Herd's Hill, Langport, Somerset
Death of Emilie Barrington, WB’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 WB’s collected works
Blue plaque to WB unveiled at 12 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1 by Harold Wilson, Prime Minister
Asteroid 2901 discovered by Lubos Kohoutek, later named after WB
Establishment of Knight-Bagehot Fellowships at Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York, USA, named in part after WB
Publication of final volumes of St John Stevas’ collected works of Bagehot. Speech 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 WB in the town
Langport Town Trust agrees to rename the Town Garden after Walter Bagehot
WB 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 WB, Bagehot: the life and times of the greatest Victorian, by James Grant