Odo Vivian, 3rd Baron Swansea

Vivian, the son of Colonel Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea, and Averil Beaumont,[1] was born at Eaton Square, London.

In 1893, at the age of 18, he became a student at the University of Cambridge.[2] He was awarded the Royal Victorian Order (Fourth Class) by King Edward, at Swansea, in July 1902[3]

He served in World War I with the Royal Irish Rifles and the Cameron Highlanders.[4] He was Lieutenant Colonel of 6th Battalion, Welch Regiment, Glamorgan Yeomanry, and was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry during the war. He was awarded a Territorial Decoration in 1916. A diary by Vivian, kept during his service in the war, and including his account of the 1917 Battle of Ypres, is held by the National Library of Wales.[5]

He later served as a Justice of the Peace and was Deputy Lieutenant of Glamorgan.[1] In 1922 he gained the title of 3rd Baron Swansea on the death of his half brother, Ernest Vivian, 2nd Baron Swansea.[1]

His uncle Sir Arthur Vivian was a Liberal politician.

He died at his country seat, Caer Beris at Builth Wells in Breconshire, on 16 November 1934.[4]

He married the Hon. Winifred Hamilton, daughter of Ion Hamilton, 1st Baron HolmPatrick, and Lady Victoria Wellesley, on 25 October 1906. Their children were:

• Hon. Ursula Margaret Vivian, b. 13 May 1910, d. 2 August 1963
• John Hamilton Hussey Vivian, 4th Baron Swansea, b. 1 January 1925, d. 24 June 2005
• Hon. Rosemary Winifred Vivian, b. 4 June 1927, d. 1981
• Averil Vivian, b. 8 January 1930[1]

• Charles Mosley, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage (107 (3 Vols) ed.). Wilmington, Delaware, US: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd.

• Odo Richard Vivian, 3rd Baron Swansea at npg.org.uk
• "The Children of Sir H Hussey Vivian, Bt. M.P." by George Elgar Hicks at sothebys.com