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    13 views21 pages

    Queen Victoria

    Uploaded by

    The CU Denver History Department

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 21
    Queen Victoria: As the Presses and Populace Remember Her On January 22, 1901, in the quiet of Osborne House, an era that spanned more than six decades ended. Gently, surrounded by her children and grandchildren an elderly woman closed her eyes for the final time." News of Queen Victoria’s death spread quickly. Within hours of her death the presses, the public and those who knew her personally began evaluating and discussing the Queens sixty-three year reign. The London Times’ coverage and published ‘memorials of the Queen fueled these discussions. Queen Victoria was an icon and few historians would argue otherwise. However, historians do have different interpretations of what the Queen's death meant for British subjects. Historians argue that there are three key trends concerning how the public reacted to the death of one of the longest living monarchs. First, historians contend that the immediate fear for British subjects was the possible loss of prosperity. During the reign of Queen Victoria, Britain experienced an economic boom and territorial expansion that placed it as one of the great powers of the globe.’ Secondly, historians describe the fear of a loss of stability that could occur during and after the leadership change. The Queen had reigned for over 63 years and many credited this stability as the reason for Britain’s prosperity. Finally, historians characterize the public’s reaction to Queen Victoria's death as influenced by the Queen's elderly age. Queen Victoria died five months before her 83" birthday, which made her a modern day marvel and indicated in Victorian terms that she had lived a long, prosperous life. ‘According to some historians, the fear created by the death of Queen Victoria is significant. Many people wondered if the loss of the Queen meant the end of Britain’s vast £ Philipp Blom, The Vertigo Years Europe, 1900-1914, (Basic Books: New York) p. 23. * Philipp Blom, The Vertigo Years Europe, 1900-1914, (Basic Books: New York), p. 25. empire and financial prosperity. Christopher Clausen, an American scholar, explains that it did not take long for the public to make the connection between the death of the iconic Queen and the possible end to one of the most prosperous epochs in British history.* One of the world’s inct differences in the character of leading economies now found itself without a leader. the two monarchs raised doubts regarding the ability of Edward the Vil to serve as heir to the throne.‘ Phillip Blom, a historian, explains, “Where Queen Victoria had been contained and discreet, Edward was crass and demonstrative; where the mother had viewed the essence of a monarch’s life as an uneventful stability, the son believed in fun.”® Stability had become something to which British people had become accustomed and it was imperative that the monarchy continue to provide it. To the British people, the Queen represented a guiding light for the largest Empire on the globe. * Her reign had spanned difficult conflicts and greatly expanded Britain’s economic status and colonial empire. In fact, Britain was the only major country that had survived the nineteenth century without engaging in revolutionary activity or civil war.” Many credited Queen Victoria for avoiding conflict with several other countries including the United States in 1861.° Queen ‘toria was a respected diplomat and had guided the British Empire to a place of power and expansive territorial possessions. Queen Victoria's death marked the loss of an icon and a strong leader that recognized across the world. ® Christopher Clausen, “The Great Queen Died,” American Scholar, Vol. 70, Issue 1, {Winter 2002), p.44 “ Philipp Blom, The Vertigo Years Europe, 1900-1914, (Basic Books: New York, 2008), p. 27. § Phitize Siom, The Vertigo Years Europe, 1900-1924, (Basic Books: New York, 2008), p. 27 § christopher Clausen, “The Great Queen Died,” American Scholar, Vol. 7, lsu 1, (Winter 2001), p44. ee n, “The Great Queen Died,” American Schofar, Vol. 70, Issue 1, (Winter 2001), p. 45. * christopher Clausen, “The Great Queen Died,” American Scholar, Vol. 70, issue 1, (Winter 2001), p. 44. Queen Victoria was eighty-two when she died in 1901. Her age and recent falling health contributed greatly to the way that the public reacted to her death, some historians argue. The Victorian era was a time of declining mortality rates and increasing life expectancy. According to one source, the average life expectancy for males in the period of 1911-1912 was 52 years old for men and 55 years old for women.” Historians argue that because the Queen had long outlived the average life expectancy her death was not considered shocking. The difference between death at a young age and death at an old age significantly changed people’s reactions. ‘As Pat Jalland, a historian, discusses many Victorians believed when a person died after living a long successful life, it was easier to comprehend. Death at an old age also allowed the deceased time to make peace with their own dying and allowed the family members to do so also."° {tis possible that Queen Victoria’s age made her death easier to accept, but it still could not fully prepare the British populace. For the purposes of this discussion, the term public is synonymous with accessible mediums like newspapers and published memorials. Public may also be used to discuss habits and attitudes of the general population that are portrayed in these accessible mediums. Class or classes are the social categories based on income and social status that divide society. Class is an important factor in the sense of opportunity to express publicly grief, for not everyone’s memorials or eulogies were printed and circulated. In some cases, class determined which accounts of the Queen survived. However, class is not the perfect manner of compartmentalizing the public’s reaction to the death of Queen Victoria and is not used as such in this discussion. * patJalland, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996), p. 143. °° pat Jalland, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996), p. 148. The sheer number of newspaper articles, books, published memorials, and other documents produced eulogizing the Queen demonstrate a profound interest in the Queen’s public persona and an intimacy with it, whether perceived or tangible. Her death saturated the news and the public grieved with the Royal Family. Members of the bereaved Royal Family discussed their grief in the public media and revealed details of the deceased's final moments. Had it not been for the Queen’s public popularity those who knew her intimately would not have had the opportunity to discuss her memory in the public forum. The public mediums define the characteristics that would not only be remembered by the public, but also by posterity. In the hours after the Queen took her last breath, the presses of the public began to determine which of the Queen’s characteristics would be preserved and constructed her historical legacy. ‘On January 22, 1901, news of the Queen's failing health reached London and The Times reported the grave concern as the city anxiously waited to hear if this latest illness would claim the life of the Queen.’* Moments after the Queen died her eldest son now King Edward VII first informed the political leaders and then the newspaper reporters that had nervously gathered outside of Osborne house. As soon as the news hit the presses, the streets of London quickly filled with newspaper carriers and grief-stricken crowds.’* in the more poetic accounts of the moment when the news of the Queen’s death broke church bells immediately rang-out across ‘the country." It is not surprising that the death of the longest reigning monarch warranted monumental coverage in the major newspapers of the time. The next morning, The London othe Queen's Ilness. “ The London Times, January 22, 1901, p. 5. ” Jerold M. Packard, Farewell in Splendor: The Passing of Queen Victoria and Her Age, (Penguin Books: New York, 1995), p. 162-163. ® Jerold M. Packard, Forewell in Splendor: The Passing of Queen Victoria and Her Age, (Penguin Books: New York, 1995), p. 162-163. Times ran a six-page section with a thick black border eulogizing the life and reign of the Queen."* The newspapers also shared the cause of Victoria’s demise, which came as a shock to Ro one. The eighty-two year old monarch had died of what newspapers called “cerebral failure.” In other words, the Queen had died of old age. Newspaper sources also informed many British citizens as well as the world how Queen Victoria spent her last moments. On January 23, 1901, The London Times reported, “During the last moments in the Queen’s room, and later in the evening the Bishop conducted a short service in the Queen's death-chamber, at which all the members of the Royal Family at Osbourne were present.””® This image of the Queen surrounded by her loved ones was a familiar one, and Pat Jalland, argues this is the stereotypical picture of the scene of death in the Victorian family.” The newspapers emphasized this aspect of the Queen’s death in order to draw a parallel between the Queen's death and the death of any British citizens. Sharing the story of the Queen’s final moments emphasized that the Queen was also a woman with a loving family. At moments like these, The Times attempted to lift the veil that separated the ‘monarchy from the populace, allowing the average person to feel close to the monarch on an individual level. Death often figured prominently in The London Times, but the detail of the information ‘offered depended on the accomplishments and status of the deceased. The death of famous figures warranted pages of coverage that delved into every detail of their lives and deaths. On the other hand, less famous individuals had only a few lines. In the March 22" 1900 edition of Christopher Clausen, “The Great Queen Died,” American Scholar, Vol. 70 Issue 4, (Winter 2001), 44 in The Death of the Queen: Medical Details of the llness,” The London Times, January 23, 1901, p.8. “* “The Death of the Queen: Last Moments Alive,” The London Times, January 23, 1901, p. 8. * Pat Jallané, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996}, p. 167. The Times, the deaths listings included individuals listed by their last name and provided very limited details. For example, “Chambers-On the 20" inst., at Eastwood Lodge, Leamington. Edward John Chambers. Late 50" Regt. Aged 76. No flowers by request.”"* The Times provided no detail about this man’s life or his accomplishments. The detailed portrait of the death scene, so common in articles about the death of public igures, also does not appear. The reader could presume that this man died of old age, but this acknowledgement does not provide that information. In only a few lines The Times acknowledged the death of someone presumed to be unimportant outside of their family and this was a common practice for those who died without achieving fame, title or substantial fortune. The Times printed hundreds of death announcements during the Victorian era, but unless the deceased held some distinction in society or had accomplished a great feat, their death was merely announced. The Times openly mourned public figures or members of society deemed worthy and evident in the very language used. For example, in April of 1901, when the death of the Bishop of Oxford was announced, “It is with deep regret that we announce the death of the Bishop of Oxford (..].’”9 It is not surprising that The Times saved flowery language for public figures. For the average citizen, family members of the deceased paid dearly for the death announcement. At the bottom of each “Deaths” column in The Times are these words, “The charge for announcements of births, deaths and marriages [...] is six 0 shillings for six lines or less or 1w. 6d for every additional line.””° There was a price to grieve ‘openly on the pages of The Times if the deceased was not a public figure. ¥ “Deaths,” The London Times, March 22, 1900, p. 1. * “Death of Bishop of Oxford,” The London Times," April 23, 1901, p.3. ® “Deaths,” The London Times, March 22, 1900, p. 1. In 1898, The Times had extensively covered the passing of Mr. William Gladstone, a revered statesman and former Prime Minister. The extensive article detailed Mr. Gladstone’s accomplishments in London and included the stunned reactions of many of Gladstone's, colleagues.” The article quoted many of Gladstone’s most memorable speeches and respectful condolences expressed from across the globe.” The Times chose to highlight that Mr. Gladstone was particularly revered as an exemplary Christian man. In the article, the Bishop of London stated, “Mr. Gladstone was a great man who had never done anything unbecoming a Christian man.’?? in one sweeping statement of tribute, the Bishop of London not only expunged the character of Mr. Gladstone of any possible sin, but also constructed the way in which he would be remembered. The Bishop also described Mr. Gladstone as a man with an unwavering commitment to his duty and his country.”* From this article, the reader learned that Mr. Gladstone was a deeply religious man and a proud patri The Times article also explicitly described Mr. Gladstone's final moments. The public learned of Mr. Gladstone's fierce struggle to overcome illness. The scene, according to The Times, involved the close family and Mrs. Gladstone who refused to leave her husband’s side.”* The Times stressed that the passage of Mr. Gladstone was a peaceful one, “It was, as our informant observed, a passing from sleep of life to that of death, so gentle was it. All the family members were painfully distressed, and Mrs. Gladstone was led away to another chamber.” The Times painted a picture of a familiar Victorian death scene complete with the image of the > “Death of Mr. Gladstone,” The London Times, May 20, 1898, p. 8. % “Death of Mr. Gladstone,” The London Times, May 20, 1898, p.8. ® “Death of Mr. Gladstone,” The London Times, May 20, 1898, p. 8. 2 “Death of Mr. Gladstone,’ The London Times, May 20, 1898, p. 8. 2 «Death of Mr. Gladstone,” The London Times, May 20, 1898, p. 8. deceased in perfect repose as if peacefully sleeping.”* it was important for The Times to portray the death of such a great man in a way that was equally respectful. Private death is an emotional subject and Victorian families treated the deceased or dying with the utmost reverence. Pat Jalland discusses the changing views of death during the Victorian era in her book, Death in the Victorian Family. Specifically, she discusses the way that families handled private death or deaths of family members that occurred in the home. Family members often wrote memorials to extoll both the virtues and the scene of the actual death of their loved one. Many believed that these memorials were both healing for the author and the reader.” Family members were often described in glowing terms and their character and accomplishments glorified.* During the late Victorian period, an important part of grieving was the possibility of seeing the family member happy in the after-life or next life.’® There is also significant evidence to suggest that Victorians possessed a progressive understanding of the need for what Pat Jalland calls, “family unity and sympathy” during the time of bereavement.” For many families, this kind of private death was deeply personal and involved a time within the home to heal and grieve. Queen Victoria was, in her own life, a prime example of a person who suffered intense personal loss. As The Times reported, “On Saturday night, the 14" inst., at 10 minutes before 11 o'clock, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort departed this life, at Windsor Castle, to the inexpressible grief of Her Majesty and all of the Royal Family.”*" According to both «Death of Mr. Gladstone,” The London Times, May 20, 1898, p. 8. » pat Jlland, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996), p. 164. * pat Jalland, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996), p. 311 * pat Jalland, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996), p. 310, ° pat Jalland, Death in the Victorian Family, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1996), p. 210 *

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