By the time of the outbreak of the Great Irish Famine in 1845, Londonderry was one of the ten richest men in the United Kingdom.
While many landlords made efforts to mitigate the worst effects of the famine on their tenants, Londonderry was criticised for meanness: he and his wife gave only £30 to the local relief committee but spent £150,000 (£13.6 million as of 2020) renovating Mount Stewart, their Irish home.
Nevertheless, Debbie Orme maintains that "the Marquis was held in high regard in the land for his attempts to alleviate suffering during the potato famine".
During the tenant right campaign of the early 1850s Londonderry insisted on his full rights and this alienated many of his tenants.
He was in disagreement over this question with his son and heir Frederick, who was more liberally inclined.
By the time of the outbreak of the Great Irish Famine in 1845, Londonderry was one of the ten richest men in the United Kingdom. While many landlords made efforts to mitigate the worst effects of the famine on their tenants, Londonderry was criticised for meanness: he and his wife gave only £30 to the local relief committee but spent £150,000 (£13.6 million as of 2020) renovating Mount Stewart, their Irish home. Nevertheless, Debbie Orme maintains that "the Marquis was held in high regard in the land for his attempts to alleviate suffering during the potato famine". During the tenant right campaign of the early 1850s Londonderry insisted on his full rights and this alienated many of his tenants. He was in disagreement over this question with his son and heir Frederick, who was more liberally inclined.
Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry