Bridget Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland
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Bridget Helen "Biddy" Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland CBE
(27 July 1896–17 April 1982), known as The Countess of Carlisle between 1918 and 1947, as Lady Monckton between 1947 and 1957, as The Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley between 1957 and 1965 and as The Dowager Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley between 1965 and 1982, was a British
peeress
and Conservative
member of the House of Lords
.
Born Bridget Hore-Ruthven, she was the eldest of four daughters of Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland, by Jean, daughter of Norman George Lampson, DL
, JP
, younger son of Sir Curtis Lampson, 1st Baronet. She was the niece of Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
, and of Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
.
On 17 January 1918 she married George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle
, becoming Countess of Carlisle. They had two children:
During the Second World War, Lady Carlisle was Senior Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service
and Director of the Women's Advisory Council in India, for which she was appointed a CBE
(military division) in 1947. Lord and Lady Carlisle also divorced that year and Lady Carlisle then became the second wife of Sir Walter Monckton
, although they had no children. In 1956 she inherited the lordship of Ruthven of Freeland
on the death of her father. A year later her husband was created Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
, thus making her Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley. She took up her seat in the House of Lords
in 1963 after the Peerage Act 1963
gave all Scottish peers and all female holders of hereditary peerages the right to sit in the upper chamber of parliament.
Lady Monckton of Brenchley died in April 1982, aged 85, and was succeeded in her title by her son, the Earl of Carlisle.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(27 July 1896–17 April 1982), known as The Countess of Carlisle between 1918 and 1947, as Lady Monckton between 1947 and 1957, as The Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley between 1957 and 1965 and as The Dowager Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley between 1965 and 1982, 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...
peeress
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 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...
member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
Born Bridget Hore-Ruthven, she was the eldest of four daughters of Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland, by Jean, daughter of Norman George Lampson, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, younger son of Sir Curtis Lampson, 1st Baronet. She was the niece of Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
Miles Wedderburn Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn, GCMG, CB, MVO, PC was a British diplomat.-Background and education:...
, and of Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
Brigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, PC was a British soldier and colonial governor and the tenth Governor-General of Australia. Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest serving Governor-General in Australia's history...
.
On 17 January 1918 she married George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle
George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle
Lieutenant-Commander George Josslyn L'Estrange Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle , styled Viscount Morpeth from 1911 to 1912, was a British peer.-Family:...
, becoming Countess of Carlisle. They had two children:
- Charles James Ruthven, Viscount Howard of MorpethCharles Howard, 12th Earl of CarlisleCharles James Ruthven Howard, 12th Earl of Carlisle MC , styled Viscount Morpeth until 1963, was an English peer.-Background and education:...
(1923-1994), later 12th Earl of CarlisleEarl of CarlisleEarl of Carlisle is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1322 when the soldier Andrew Harclay, 1st Baron Harclay was made Earl of Carlisle. He had already been summoned to Parliament as Lord Harclay in 1321... - Lady Carolyn Bridget Dacre (b. 1919)
During the Second World War, Lady Carlisle was Senior Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service
Auxiliary Territorial Service
The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War...
and Director of the Women's Advisory Council in India, for which she was appointed a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(military division) in 1947. Lord and Lady Carlisle also divorced that year and Lady Carlisle then became the second wife of Sir Walter Monckton
Walter Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
Walter Turner Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, GCVO, KCMG, MC, PC was a British politician.-Early years:...
, although they had no children. In 1956 she inherited the lordship of Ruthven of Freeland
Lord Ruthven of Freeland
Lord Ruthven of Freeland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1651 for Thomas Ruthven. He was the grandson of Alexander Ruthven, younger son of William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven...
on the death of her father. A year later her husband was created Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, of Brenchley in the County of Kent, is an hereditary title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1957 for the lawyer, Conservative politician and former Minister of Defence, Sir Walter Monckton. His son, the second Viscount, was a Major-General in...
, thus making her Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley. She took up her seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in 1963 after the Peerage Act 1963
Peerage Act 1963
The Peerage Act 1963 is the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that permitted peeresses in their own right and all Scottish hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, and which allows newly inherited hereditary peerages to be "disclaimed".-Background:The Act resulted largely from the...
gave all Scottish peers and all female holders of hereditary peerages the right to sit in the upper chamber of parliament.
Lady Monckton of Brenchley died in April 1982, aged 85, and was succeeded in her title by her son, the Earl of Carlisle.