David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss
Encyclopedia
Francis David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss and 8th Earl of March, KT
, DL
(19 January 1912 – 12 December 2008) succeeded his grandfather in the family titles in 1937.
He was the eldest son of Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho, who was killed in the First World War. He was educated at Eton College
and at Balliol College, Oxford
(BA 1933). He was a Colonial Administrator in Basutoland
from 1937 until 1944. He was commissioned into the Lovat Scouts
(Territorial Army) in 1932. He was promoted Lieutenant
in 1935 and transferred to the TA Reserve of Officers in 1937. He served with the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps in the Middle East from 1941 to 1944.
He married, 1st, in 1940 Mavis Lynette Gordon Murray (d. 1988), daughter of Edwin Edward Murray, of Hermanus
, Cape Province
, South Africa
. They had two daughters and two sons (one daughter died in infancy). The elder son, Iain David Charteris, Lord Elcho, was born in 1945 but died as the result of an accident in 1954; his younger brother, James Donald Charteris, Lord Neidpath
(b. 22 June 1948), succeeded his father to the Earldoms in December 2008. Lord Wemyss married, secondly, 1995, Shelagh Kathleen Kennedy, née Thrift.
He was Deputy Lieutenant from 1959 to 1967 and Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian
from 1967 until 1987, and a Justice of the Peace
since 1957. He was appointed as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1959, 1960 and 1977. He held the honorary appointment of Lord Clerk Register
from 1974 until 2007.
He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Company of Archers
. He was Chairman of the Council of the National Trust for Scotland
1947 to 1967, President from 1967 to 1991, and has been President Emeritus since 1991. He was Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
from 1949 to 1984, President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
from 1958 to 1962, and President of the National Bible Society of Scotland
from 1960 to 1983. He held an honorary LLD from St Andrews University, awarded in 1953, and an honorary DUniv from Edinburgh University awarded in 1983. He was formerly a director of Standard Life
and of Scottish Television
.
He lived in Gosford House
, Longniddry
, East Lothian
. He died on 12 December 2008 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh
.
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
, 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....
(19 January 1912 – 12 December 2008) succeeded his grandfather in the family titles in 1937.
He was the eldest son of Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho, who was killed in the First World War. 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"....
and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
(BA 1933). He was a Colonial Administrator in Basutoland
Basutoland
Basutoland or officially the Territory of Basutoland, was a British Crown colony established in 1884 after the Cape Colony's inability to control the territory...
from 1937 until 1944. He was commissioned into the Lovat Scouts
Lovat Scouts
The Lovat Scouts were a British Army unit. The unit was first formed during the Second Boer War as a Scottish Highland yeomanry regiment of the British Army and is the first known military unit to wear a ghillie suit...
(Territorial Army) in 1932. He was 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 1935 and transferred to the TA Reserve of Officers in 1937. He served with the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps in the Middle East from 1941 to 1944.
He married, 1st, in 1940 Mavis Lynette Gordon Murray (d. 1988), daughter of Edwin Edward Murray, of Hermanus
Hermanus
Hermanus is a town with 49,000 inhabitants on the southern coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is famous as a place from which to watch Southern Right whales, during the southern winter and spring and is a popular retirement town...
, Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. They had two daughters and two sons (one daughter died in infancy). The elder son, Iain David Charteris, Lord Elcho, was born in 1945 but died as the result of an accident in 1954; his younger brother, James Donald Charteris, Lord Neidpath
James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss
James Donald Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March, is a member of the Scottish peerage, the 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March.Neidpath was educated first at Eton....
(b. 22 June 1948), succeeded his father to the Earldoms in December 2008. Lord Wemyss married, secondly, 1995, Shelagh Kathleen Kennedy, née Thrift.
He was Deputy Lieutenant from 1959 to 1967 and Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian
Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian.*George Hay, 7th Marquess of Tweeddale 17 March 1794 – 9 August 1804*Charles Hamilton, 8th Earl of Haddington 18 September 1804 – 1823...
from 1967 until 1987, and a Justice of the Peace
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...
since 1957. He was appointed as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland, and the Sovereign's role as protector and member of...
in 1959, 1960 and 1977. He held the honorary appointment of Lord Clerk Register
Lord Clerk Register
The office of Lord Clerk Register is the oldest surviving Great Officer of State in Scotland, with origins in the 13th century.The Clerk-Register was from ancient times the principal Clerk in the kingdom, from whom all other clerks, whatever their government positions, and who were essentially his...
from 1974 until 2007.
He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Company of Archers
Royal Company of Archers
The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. It is currently known as the Queen's...
. He was Chairman of the Council of the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
1947 to 1967, President from 1967 to 1991, and has been President Emeritus since 1991. He was Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government 'sponsored' [financed and with oversight] through Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government...
from 1949 to 1984, President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
Royal Scottish Geographical Society
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is a learned society founded in 1884 and based in Perth. The Society has a membership of 2500 and aims to advance the science of geography worldwide by supporting education, research, expeditions, through its journal , its newsletter and other publications...
from 1958 to 1962, and President of the National Bible Society of Scotland
Scottish Bible Society
Scottish Bible Society, founded in 1809 as the Edinburgh Bible Society, amalgamated in 1861 with the Glasgow Bible Society to form the National Bible Society of Scotland, is a Scottish Christian charity that exists to make the Bible available throughout the world.The Scottish Bible Society arose...
from 1960 to 1983. He held an honorary LLD from St Andrews University, awarded in 1953, and an honorary DUniv from Edinburgh University awarded in 1983. He was formerly a director of Standard Life
Standard Life
Standard Life plc is a long term savings and investment business, with headquarters in Edinburgh and operations across the globe. It has 1.5 million shareholders in more than 50 countries and over 6 million customers.-History:...
and of Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
.
He lived in Gosford House
Gosford House
Gosford House is the family seat of the Charteris family and is situated near Longniddry in East Lothian, Scotland. It was recently the home of the late Rt. Hon. David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss and 8th Earl of March, chief of the name and arms of Charteris.Gosford was built by the 7th Earl of...
, Longniddry
Longniddry
Longniddry is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, with a population of 2,613 .Longniddry is primarily a dormitory village for commuters to Edinburgh, with good transport links by road and rail to the capital...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
. He died on 12 December 2008 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh
Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh
The Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, is a purpose-built 247 bed hospital situated in the north-west of Edinburgh on Craigleith Road near the Western General Hospital. It is the main geriatric assessment and rehabilitation hospital for the north of Edinburgh and comprises a Medical...
.
External links
- An Online Gotha - Earls of Wemyss and March
- The Independent obituary: The Earl of Wemyss and March Monday, 15 December 2008.