Robert Collier, 2nd Baron Monkswell

The Right Honourable The Lord Monkswell
Under-Secretary of State for War
In office 5 January 1895 – 21 June 1895
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	The Earl of Rosebery
Preceded by	The Lord Sandhurst
Succeeded by	Hon. St John Brodrick
Personal details
Born	26 January 1845
Died	22 December 1909 (1909-12-23) (aged 64)
Nationality	British
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Mary Josephine Hardcastle (d. 1930)

Robert Collier, 2nd Baron Monkswell (26 March 1845 – 22 December 1909), was a British Liberal politician. He was briefly Under-Secretary of State for War under The Earl of Rosebery in 1895. As a young man, he was a first-class cricketer active from 1866 to 1867. He was born and died in Chelsea.

Background

Monkswell was the eldest son of Robert Collier, 1st Baron Monkswell, and his wife Isabella Rose, daughter of William Rose. The artist John Collier was his younger brother.

Cricket career

Monkswell did not succeed to his title until 1886 and so was known as Robert Collier during his cricket career. He appeared for Cambridgeshire in three first-class matches, scoring 33 runs with a highest score of 14.

Political career

Lord Monkswell entered the House of Lords on his father's death in 1886, and later served in the Liberal administrations of William Ewart Gladstone and Lord Rosebery as a Lord-in-Waiting from 1892 to 1895 and as Under-Secretary of State for War from January to June 1895. He was also a member of the London County Council for the Progressive Party, and served as Vice-Chairman 1902-03, and Chairman 1903-04.

Family

Lord Monkswell married Mary Josephine Hardcastle, daughter of Joseph Hardcastle, in 1873. He died in December 1909, aged 64, and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son Robert. Lady Monkswell died in May 1930.