Description

John Wilson Croker (1780-1857), politician and writer, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and studied for the bar before moving to London. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Secretary for Ireland when Sir Arthur Wellesley took command of the Army in Portugal, and subsequently became Secretary to the Admiralty, an important role in wartime. He was noted for his efficiency and honesty, and held the post until 1830, despite changes of government. He was a prolific letter-writer, on both professional and personal matters, and almost all his correspondents were men of importance in their field. This three-volume edition of his papers was published in 1884. Volume 3 covers the period from 1843 until Croker's death. It includes the Corn Law debates, the Irish Famine, and correspondence with the Duke of Wellington. Croker remained an active literary critic for the Quarterly Review, which made him enemies who damaged his posthumous reputation.