Charles Shaw-Lefevre, Viscount Eversley

On the south wall of St Margaret's church Westminster is a brass in memory of Charles Shaw-Lefevre, Viscount Eversley (1794-1888), Speaker of the House of Commons. This was erected by his grandson, the Reverend Carew Harvey St John Mildmay. He was the eldest son of Charles Shaw, barrister from Yorkshire and Member of Parliament, and his wife Helena Lefevre, from a Huguenot family. When they married they used the surname Shaw-Lefevre. A brother was Sir John Shaw-Lefevre. Charles, a lawyer, married Emma Whitbread in 1817 and had three sons who died young and three daughters, Emma (unmarried), Helena and Elizabeth (both of whom married into the St John Mildmay family). He was a Member of Parliament and was created Viscount Eversley of Heckfield in 1857. He is buried with his wife at Kensal Green cemetery in London.

The brass includes his achievement of arms and motto and the inscription reads:

+ Sacred to the memory of the Right Honourable Charles Shaw-Lefevre P.C. G.C.B. D.C.L. LL.D. of Heckfield Place in the county of Southampton [Hampshire] for nearly 18 years Speaker of the House of Commons. Upon his retirement from the Chair in 1857 he was elevated to the peerage by the title Viscount Eversley. His Lordship was High Steward of Winchester, Captain General and Governor of the Isle of Wight and A.D.C. [Aide-de-camp] to the Queen. He died Dec.28 1888 in the ninety fifth year of his age when the title became extinct.

The title was later granted to a nephew George in 1906.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for Charles and his brother

www.historyofparliamentonline.org for Charles and his father

"A strong supporting cast: the Shaw-Lefevres 1789-1936" by F.M.G. Wilson