George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon
Encyclopedia
George Herbert Hyde Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon KG, PC
(7 June 1877 – 13 December 1955), known as Lord Hyde from 1877 to 1914, was a British Conservative
politician. He served as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
from 1931 to 1937.
Clarendon was the only son of Edward Hyde Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon and his wife Lady Caroline Elizabeth Agar, daughter of James Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton
. George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon, three times Foreign Secretary, was his grandfather. Clarendon took his seat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords
on his father's death in 1914. When Andrew Bonar Law became Prime Minister in 1922 he appointed Clarendon Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (government chief whip in the House of Lords), a position he also held under Stanley Baldwin until January 1924, and again from December 1924 to 1925. He then served as the first Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
until 1927. In 1931 Clarendon was appointed Governor-General of South Africa, in which position he remained until 1937. He later held the court position of Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1938 to 1952. He was sworn of the Privy Council
in 1931 and made a Knight of the Garter in 1937.
Lord Clarendon married Adeline Verena Ishbel Cocks, daughter of Herbert Haldane Somers Cocks, in 1905. He died in December 1955, aged 78. His eldest son George Villiers, Lord Hyde, had been killed in a shooting accident in 1935 and he was succeeded in the earldom by his grandson George Frederick Laurence Hyde Villiers.
During his tenure as Governor-General of South Africa, he also served as Chief Scout
of South Africa
.
and its associated schools, Clarendon Primary School and Clarendon Preparatory School in East London, South Africa are named after him.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(7 June 1877 – 13 December 1955), known as Lord Hyde from 1877 to 1914, was a British 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...
politician. He served as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British and later South African Crown in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961...
from 1931 to 1937.
Clarendon was the only son of Edward Hyde Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon and his wife Lady Caroline Elizabeth Agar, daughter of James Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton
James Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton
James Charles Herbert Welbore Ellis Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton , known as Viscount Somerton until 1868, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom....
. George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon, three times Foreign Secretary, was his grandfather. Clarendon took his seat on the Conservative benches 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....
on his father's death in 1914. When Andrew Bonar Law became Prime Minister in 1922 he appointed Clarendon Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (government chief whip in the House of Lords), a position he also held under Stanley Baldwin until January 1924, and again from December 1924 to 1925. He then served as the first Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
The position of Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs was a British ministerial position, subordinate to that of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, created in 1925 to deal with British relations with the Dominions — Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland, and the...
until 1927. In 1931 Clarendon was appointed Governor-General of South Africa, in which position he remained until 1937. He later held the court position of Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1938 to 1952. He was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1931 and made a Knight of the Garter in 1937.
Lord Clarendon married Adeline Verena Ishbel Cocks, daughter of Herbert Haldane Somers Cocks, in 1905. He died in December 1955, aged 78. His eldest son George Villiers, Lord Hyde, had been killed in a shooting accident in 1935 and he was succeeded in the earldom by his grandson George Frederick Laurence Hyde Villiers.
During his tenure as Governor-General of South Africa, he also served as Chief Scout
Chief Scout
The Chief Scout is the uniformed head of a Scouting organisation:*For the Chief Scout of the World see: Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell*For the head of The Scout Association see: Chief Scout...
of South Africa
South African Scout Association
The South African Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognized Scouting association in South Africa. Scouting began in the United Kingdom in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell and rapidly spread to South Africa, with the first Scout troops appearing in...
.
Commemorations
Clarendon High School for GirlsClarendon High School for Girls
Clarendon High School for Girls is a girls' secondary school situated in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was founded in 1903 as East London Girls' High School.-History:...
and its associated schools, Clarendon Primary School and Clarendon Preparatory School in East London, South Africa are named after him.