Arthur Walsh, 3rd Baron Ormathwaite
Encyclopedia
Arthur Henry John Walsh, 3rd Baron Ormathwaite, GCVO
(10 April 1859–13 March 1937) was a British
peer
and courtier
.
Walsh was the eldest son of the 2nd Baron Ormathwaite
and his wife, Katherine, a daughter of the 7th Duke of Beaufort
. He was educated at Eton College
. In 1876 he was commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant
in the Royal South Wales Borderers Militia
, being promoted Lieutenant
later the same year. In 1878 he transferred to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant
in the 1st Life Guards and was later promoted Lieutenant
. In 1887 he left the Regular Army and became a Second Lieutenant in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry
, serving until 1890.
In 1885, Walsh entered Parliament
as Conservative
MP
for Radnorshire
and held the seat until his defeat by Liberal
Francis Edwards
in 1892. On 26 July 1890, he had married Lady Clementine Pratt, the only daughter of the 3rd Marquess Camden
.
In 1892 he became a equerry
in waiting to Queen Victoria
. In 1897, he was briefly Comptroller of the Household
to The Duchess of Teck
before her death that year and he carried her coronet
at her funeral. He served as a Gentleman Usher
(1902–1905) and Groom-in-Waiting (1905–1907) to Edward VII
and was Master of the Ceremonies
from 1907 to 1920 and Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire
from 1917 to 1921.
Walsh was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order 4th Class
(MVO) in 1907, promoted to Commander (CVO) in the 1910 New Year Honours, Knight Commander (KCVO) in the 1912 New Year Honours, and Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) in the 1920 Birthday Honours on his retirement.
Walsh inherited his father's title in 1920 and on his own death in 1937 without children it passed to his brother, George.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(10 April 1859–13 March 1937) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
.
Walsh was the eldest son of the 2nd Baron Ormathwaite
Arthur Walsh, 2nd Baron Ormathwaite
Arthur Walsh, 2nd Baron Ormathwaite was a British politician, the son of John Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite.He was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Leominster in 1865, resigning in 1868 by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead...
and his wife, Katherine, a daughter of the 7th Duke of Beaufort
Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort
Major Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort KG , styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1803 and Marquess of Worcester between 1803 and 1835, was a British peer, soldier and politician.-Background:...
. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. In 1876 he was commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
in the Royal South Wales Borderers Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, being promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
later the same year. In 1878 he transferred to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 1st Life Guards and was later promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. In 1887 he left the Regular Army and became a Second Lieutenant in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry
Royal East Kent Yeomanry
The Royal East Kent Yeomanry were formed in 1794, originally as a series of independent troops based in the important towns of Kent, England.In the latter part of the 19th century they frequently provided escorts for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and as a result, in 1856 the East Kent...
, serving until 1890.
In 1885, Walsh entered Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Radnorshire
Radnorshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Radnorshire was created in 1542 as a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
and held the seat until his defeat by Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Francis Edwards
Francis Edwards
Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet , commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician....
in 1892. On 26 July 1890, he had married Lady Clementine Pratt, the only daughter of the 3rd Marquess Camden
John Pratt, 3rd Marquess Camden
John Charles Pratt, 3rd Marquess Camden DL , styled Viscount Bayham in 1840 and Earl of Brecknock between 1840 and 1866, was a British Liberal politician....
.
In 1892 he became a equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
in waiting to Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. In 1897, he was briefly Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
to The Duchess of Teck
Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III, and great-grandmother of Elizabeth II. She held the title of Duchess of Teck through marriage.Mary Adelaide is remembered as the mother of Queen Mary, the consort of...
before her death that year and he carried her coronet
Coronet
A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. Unlike a crown, a coronet never has arches.The word stems from the Old French coronete, a diminutive of coronne , itself from the Latin corona .Traditionally, such headgear is – as indicated by the German equivalent...
at her funeral. He served as a Gentleman Usher
Gentleman Usher
Gentleman Usher is a title for some officers of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. See List of Gentlemen Ushers for a list of office-holders.-Historical:...
(1902–1905) and Groom-in-Waiting (1905–1907) to Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
and was Master of the Ceremonies
Master of the Ceremonies
The office of Master of the Ceremonies was established by King James I/VI. The master's duties were to receive foreign dignitaries and present them to the monarch at court...
from 1907 to 1920 and Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire
Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Radnorshire. After 1715, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Radnorshire...
from 1917 to 1921.
Walsh was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order 4th Class
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO) in 1907, promoted to Commander (CVO) in the 1910 New Year Honours, Knight Commander (KCVO) in the 1912 New Year Honours, and Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) in the 1920 Birthday Honours on his retirement.
Walsh inherited his father's title in 1920 and on his own death in 1937 without children it passed to his brother, George.