Herbert Eaton, 3rd Baron Cheylesmore
Encyclopedia
Major-General Herbert Francis Eaton, 3rd Baron Cheylesmore KCMG
, KCVO
(25 January 1848 - 29 July 1925) was a British Army officer, sportsman, and peer. He was Chairman of London County Council
, chairman of the National Rifle Association
and presided over courts martial during World War I
.
and his wife Charlotte Gorham Harman. His father made money in the silk trade helped to manage Insurance Companies and was MP for Coventry
. Eaton was educated at Eton
in Mr. Warre
’s house. He was nicknamed “Cheeky Eaton” and rowed bow
in the winning Eton House four
crew in 1866. He also shot for Eton in the Ashburton Shield in 1866.
, and went to Dublin, where he was given the nickname "Brown" by his brother officers. He rowed for the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in the 1877 Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
. His father became Baron Cheylesmore
of Cheylesmore, in the city of Coventry, co. Warwick in 1887 and had to give up his parliamentary seat. In the ensuing by-election Eaton stood for the seat but failed to be elected by 16 votes. He first appeared in Vanity Fair
in 1891 as commander of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, which he had “just brought back from a well-deserved, if enforced, holiday in Bermuda. As some curious punishment, the entire battalion had been sent to there for a year following 'an act of insubordination.'” While there in 1891, he met Elizabeth Richardson French, daughter of Francis Ormond French of New York, and married her back in London on 14 July 1892. Vanity Fair said of him in 1891
He became Major-General in 1899.
in November that year. He shot for the House of Lords from 1906.
Cheylesmore was an alderman of Westminster City Council
, and Mayor of Westminster in 1905 and 1906.
On 17 January 1911, Baroness Cheylesmore purchased the Cooper's Hill property at Runnymede
, previously used by the Royal Indian Engineering College
, for use as a family home.
In April 1912, Cheylesmore became Chairman of London County Council. In this capacity, he opened the Woolwich foot tunnel
on Saturday, 26 October 1912.
, where the ranges were put at the disposal of the Army Council. The school was to train and provide instructors in musketry from those who had passed the age of military service. The School trained some 14,500 officers, NCOs and civilians for service in the Army and Territorial Force.
Of Cheylesmore it was said "He is never happier than when the boys have their week at Bisley, and he can devote a portion of his well-earned holidays to “teaching the young idea to shoot. Loves rifle shooting as much as marksmen like him -- which is indeed saying a very great deal. Has done more to advance the “nation of marksmen” ideal than any other nobleman in the country".
During World War I he presided over several court martials including that which condemned the spy Carl Hans Lody
to death.
Cheylesmore was honoured Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in June 1925. He died a month later aged 77, in a motor accident ,the first peer to suffer such a fate in Britain. The family was desolated and a great ballroom, known as the Pillar Hall at Coopers Hill, which was being built for the coming of age of their heir, was left unfinished. He is commemorated by a monument by Edwin Lutyens
in the Embankment Gardens. The Cheylesmore Range at Bisley named after him was opened for the 1948 Summer Olympics
.
His son Francis Ormond Henry Eaton, 4th Baron Cheylesmore succeeded to the Barony.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, KCVO
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...
(25 January 1848 - 29 July 1925) was a British Army officer, sportsman, and peer. He was Chairman of London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
, chairman of the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom
The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom is the governing body of full bore rifle and pistol shooting sports in the United Kingdom.- History :...
and presided over courts martial during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early life
Eaton was the son of Henry Eaton, 1st Baron CheylesmoreHenry Eaton, 1st Baron Cheylesmore
Henry William Eaton, 1st Baron Cheylesmore was a British businessman and Conservative politician.The son of Henry Eaton, he was head of William Eaton & Sons, China-silk brokers. He was also Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1865 to 1880, and from 1885 to 1887...
and his wife Charlotte Gorham Harman. His father made money in the silk trade helped to manage Insurance Companies and was MP for Coventry
Coventry (UK Parliament constituency)
Coventry was a borough constituency which was represented in the House of Commons of England and its successors, the House of Commons of Great Britain and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom....
. Eaton was educated at Eton
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 Mr. Warre
Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre C.V.O. was an English rower and headmaster of Eton College from 1884-1905.Warre was born in London, the son of Henry Warre, of Bindon House, near Wellington. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he had a distinguished career, taking a double first...
’s house. He was nicknamed “Cheeky Eaton” and rowed bow
Bow (rowing)
Bow is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Bow:...
in the winning Eton House four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....
crew in 1866. He also shot for Eton in the Ashburton Shield in 1866.
Military career
At the age of twenty Eaton joined the Grenadier GuardsGrenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
, and went to Dublin, where he was given the nickname "Brown" by his brother officers. He rowed for the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in the 1877 Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. His father became Baron Cheylesmore
Baron Cheylesmore
Baron Cheylesmore, of Cheylesmore in the City of Coventry and County of Warwick, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 9 July 1887 for the businessman and Conservative politician Henry Eaton. He had earlier represented Coventry in the House of Commons. He was succeeded...
of Cheylesmore, in the city of Coventry, co. Warwick in 1887 and had to give up his parliamentary seat. In the ensuing by-election Eaton stood for the seat but failed to be elected by 16 votes. He first appeared in Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine, historical)
Vanity Fair has been the title of at least five magazines, including an 1859–1863 American publication, an 1868–1914 British publication, an unrelated 1902–1904 New York magazine, and a 1913–1936 American publication edited by Condé Nast, which was revived in 1983.Vanity Fair was notably a...
in 1891 as commander of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, which he had “just brought back from a well-deserved, if enforced, holiday in Bermuda. As some curious punishment, the entire battalion had been sent to there for a year following 'an act of insubordination.'” While there in 1891, he met Elizabeth Richardson French, daughter of Francis Ormond French of New York, and married her back in London on 14 July 1892. Vanity Fair said of him in 1891
"He is a good all-round sportsman who drives his father’s team well; but though a fair shot, he is sometimes a little too eager to get birds. He has thrown himself heart and soul into most things connected with the Brigade; and the Boat Club and Racing Club would miss him as much as he would be missed from an Ascot luncheon. He has commanded the N.R.A. camp at Wimbledon and Bisley for seven years; yet withal he has found time to start and successfully edit The Brigade of Guards Magazine. He is a very good and very popular Colonel."
He became Major-General in 1899.
Political career
On the death of his brother on 10 July 1902, Eaton succeeded to the title of 3rd Baron Cheylesmore,and made his maiden speech in the House of LordsHouse 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 November that year. He shot for the House of Lords from 1906.
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council is the local authority for the City of Westminster in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council and is entitled to be known as a city council, which is a rare distinction in the United Kingdom. The city is divided into 20 wards, each electing three councillors...
, and Mayor of Westminster in 1905 and 1906.
On 17 January 1911, Baroness Cheylesmore purchased the Cooper's Hill property at Runnymede
Runnymede
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is the site of a collection of memorials...
, previously used by the Royal Indian Engineering College
Royal Indian Engineering College
The Royal Indian Engineering College was a British college of Civil Engineering founded by Sir George Tomkyns Chesney in 1870. It was intended to train engineers for the Indian Public Works department. The work of the college was transferred to India in 1906....
, for use as a family home.
In April 1912, Cheylesmore became Chairman of London County Council. In this capacity, he opened the Woolwich foot tunnel
Woolwich foot tunnel
The Woolwich foot tunnel is a tunnel crossing under the River Thames in East London from Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich to North Woolwich in the London Borough of Newham. The tunnel offers pedestrians an alternative way to cross the river when the Woolwich Ferry service is not operating...
on Saturday, 26 October 1912.
World War I and after
At the outbreak of World War I, Cheylesmore became commandant of a School of Musketry at Bisley CampBisley, Surrey
Bisley is a large village in Surrey, England, which is notable for rifle shooting. Bisley's immediate neighbours are West End, Chobham and Knaphill.- History :...
, where the ranges were put at the disposal of the Army Council. The school was to train and provide instructors in musketry from those who had passed the age of military service. The School trained some 14,500 officers, NCOs and civilians for service in the Army and Territorial Force.
Of Cheylesmore it was said "He is never happier than when the boys have their week at Bisley, and he can devote a portion of his well-earned holidays to “teaching the young idea to shoot. Loves rifle shooting as much as marksmen like him -- which is indeed saying a very great deal. Has done more to advance the “nation of marksmen” ideal than any other nobleman in the country".
During World War I he presided over several court martials including that which condemned the spy Carl Hans Lody
Carl Hans Lody
Carl Hans Lody was executed as a German spy by Great Britain at the Tower of London soon after the outbreak of World War I....
to death.
Cheylesmore was honoured Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in June 1925. He died a month later aged 77, in a motor accident ,the first peer to suffer such a fate in Britain. The family was desolated and a great ballroom, known as the Pillar Hall at Coopers Hill, which was being built for the coming of age of their heir, was left unfinished. He is commemorated by a monument by Edwin Lutyens
Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era...
in the Embankment Gardens. The Cheylesmore Range at Bisley named after him was opened for the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
His son Francis Ormond Henry Eaton, 4th Baron Cheylesmore succeeded to the Barony.