Violet Georgina, Viscountess Milner, 1872-1958

Violet Georgina, Viscountess Milner (1872-1958) married Lord Edward Herbert Gascoyne-Cecil (1867-1918) in 1894. She subsequently married Viscount Milner (1854-1925) in 1921. She had an interest in politics and was editor of The National Review 1932-48.

Frederick Augustus Maxse (1833-1900) had a distinguished naval career before retiring with the rank of Admiral in 1867. He became a political writer after 1874.

Alfred, Viscount Milner (1854-1925) was a statesman. His positions included director general of accounts in Egypt, 1889-92; chair of the Board of Inland Revenue, 1892-97; and High Commissioner for South Africa, 1897-1905. He returned to England in 1905, from which date he worked in the City and served as a member of various committees and as a Rhodes Trustee. In 1916 he became a member of the War Cabinet. In April 1918 he became Secretary of State for War and in December of the same year Secretary of State for the Colonies, a post which he held until his resignation in 1921.

Details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography and in Lady Milner's book My Picture Gallery (1951).

From the guide to the Violet Milner Papers, 1833-1958, (Bodleian Library, University of Oxford)