Childers, Hugh Culling Eardley (1827–1896)

English Liberal politician. As secretary for war 1880–82 he was responsible for the military operations in the first South African War in 1881 and the Egyptian expedition to subdue a nationalist revolt in 1882. He was chancellor of the Exchequer 1882–85 and home secretary in 1886.

Early on in his career, Childers went to Australia, settled in Victoria, and became a member of the first Victorian Cabinet as commissioner of customs and trades in 1856. In 1857 he returned to England as agent general for the colony and entered Parliament in 1860. In 1864 he was made a civil lord of the Admiralty, and was First Lord of the Admiralty and a member of William Gladstone's first cabinet in 1868.