Lord Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice

Charles George Francis Mercer Nairne Petty-Fitzmaurice MVO (12 February 1874 – 30 October 1914) was an English soldier and courtier.

Lord Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice

MVO
Born
Charles George Francis Mercer Nairne Petty-Fitzmaurice

(1874-02-12)12 February 1874
Died30 October 1914(1914-10-30) (aged 40)
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1909; his death 1914)​
ChildrenMary Margaret Elizabeth Petty-Fitzmaurice
George Petty-Fitzmaurice, 8th Marquess of Lansdowne
Parent(s)Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne
RelativesHenry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (grandfather)
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (grandfather)

Early life

Petty-Fitzmaurice was the younger son of the former Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton and Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, a British statesman who served successively as the fifth Governor General of Canada, Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.[1] His elder brother, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice became the 6th Marquess and Charles inherited the Meikleour estate.[2]

His paternal grandparents were Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne, and his wife, Emily, 8th Lady Nairne (née (Joseph). His maternal grandparents were James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, and his wife Lady Louisa Jane Russell (a daughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford).[1]

Career

He joined the 1st King's Dragoon Guards in 1895, and served as an aide-de-camp to Frederick Roberts during the Boer War 1899–1900. He stayed as a Lieutenant of the 1st Dragoon Guards until January 1901,[3] when he was seconded for service on the army staff as Aide-de-camp to Lord Roberts, who had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Lord Roberts resigned when this post was abolished in early 1904, and Petty-Fitzmaurice was promoted to Captain of his former regiment the 1st Dragoons in October 1904.[4]

In May 1902, he was part of a delegation led by the Duke of Connaught to take part in the enthronement ceremonies in Madrid for the young King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and he was awarded the First class of the Spanish Order of Military Merit.[5]

From 1909, he was an equerry to the Prince of Wales (later George V) until he was killed in action in World War I.[1]

Personal life

On 20 January 1909, he married Lady Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynymound (daughter of Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto and Mary Caroline Grey) and they had two children:[1]

Lord Charles was killed in action on 30 October 1914. He is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery.[6] The inscription on his gravestone reads: NOT IN VAIN NOT UNHONOURED NOT FORGOTTEN THEY GAVE UP THEIR LIVES.[6]

After his death, his widow Violet remarried to John Jacob Astor V on 28 August 1916.[1]

References
  1. "Lansdowne, Marquess of (GB, 1784)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  2. Doughty, Eleanor (14 August 2017). "Breathing fresh life into Bowood House, where Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. "No. 27315". The London Gazette. 21 May 1901. p. 3461.
  4. "No. 27735". The London Gazette. 15 November 1904. p. 7367.
  5. "The King of Spain´s enthronement". The Times (36769). London. 16 May 1902. p. 5.
  6. "Casualty Details: Mercer-Nairne, Lord Charles George Francis". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
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