William Vanneck, 5th Baron Huntingfield
Encyclopedia
William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck, 5th Baron Huntingfield, KCMG
(3 January 188320 November 1969) was a British Conservative Party
politician, Governor of Victoria and Administrator of Australia
.
, Queensland
, Australia
. He was the son of Hon. William Arcedeckne Vanneck and Mary Armstrong. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
, whereafter he joined the 13th/18th Hussars
reaching the rank of captain. He succeeded his uncle in 1915 as 5th Baron Huntingfield
of Heveningham Hall
and 7th Baronet Vanneck of Putney.
He married Margaret Eleanor Crosby (d. 1 March 1943) and had four children:
, Suffolk
in the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. He was successively Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the Home Office
1926–7, and then to the President of the Board of Trade
between 1927–8.
. His term expired in 1939. He served as Administrator of Australia
between March 1938 and September 1938.
Although he was offered the post of Governor of Southern Rhodesia in 1942 he did not take up the position.
in 1934. He was Colonel of the 58th Battalion, Company of London Home Guard during World War II
. He was given the rank of Honorary Air Commodore in No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
. Finally he was invested as a Knight of Grace, Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
His first wife having died in 1943, he married Muriel Mary Georgina Duke (d. 13 May 1953) and had one daughter:
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....
(3 January 188320 November 1969) was a British Conservative Party
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, Governor of Victoria and Administrator of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
.
Early life
Born in GattonGatton, Queensland
Gatton is a town and the administrative centre of the Lockyer Valley Local Government Area situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Gatton had a population of 5,295....
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He was the son of Hon. William Arcedeckne Vanneck and Mary Armstrong. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, whereafter he joined the 13th/18th Hussars
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
The 13th/18th Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-Formation:On 9 September 1922, the 13th/18th Hussars was formed by amalgamation of the 13th Hussars and the 18th Royal Hussars . In December 1935, it became known as the 13th/18th Royal Hussars ...
reaching the rank of captain. He succeeded his uncle in 1915 as 5th Baron Huntingfield
Baron Huntingfield
Baron Huntingfield is a title that has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Ireland. The first two creations were by writ, but little more is known about them. They probably became extinct or fell into abeyance on the death of their first holders...
of Heveningham Hall
Heveningham Hall
Heveningham Hall is a Grade I listed building in Heveningham, Suffolk that was built in 1780. The east wing was gutted by fire in June 1984.The hall and grounds were bought in 1994 by Foxtons-founder Jon Hunt and his wife for use as a family home...
and 7th Baronet Vanneck of Putney.
He married Margaret Eleanor Crosby (d. 1 March 1943) and had four children:
- Hon. Sara Carola Vanneck (25 September 1913–2001), married David Arthur Peel on 14 April 1936
- Gerald Vanneck, 6th Baron Huntingfield (1915–1994)
- Hon. Anne Margaret Theodosia Vanneck (20 May 1918–2000), married Peter Moro, the architect, on 2 March 1940 and had issue; divorced 1984.
- Hon. Sir Peter VanneckPeter VanneckAir Commodore Sir Peter Beckford Rutgers Vanneck, GBE, CB, AFC, AE, DL was a British Royal Navy officer, jet pilot, engineer, stockbroker and politician...
(1922–1999)
Political career
Between 1923 and 1929 he was member for EyeEye (UK Parliament constituency)
Eye was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in the Parliament of the United Kingdom
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...
. He was successively Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
1926–7, and then to the President of the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
between 1927–8.
Governorships
In 1934 William Vanneck became the Governor of Victoria, AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. His term expired in 1939. He served as Administrator of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
between March 1938 and September 1938.
Although he was offered the post of Governor of Southern Rhodesia in 1942 he did not take up the position.
Honours and later life
He was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder 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....
in 1934. He was Colonel of the 58th Battalion, Company of London Home Guard during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was given the rank of Honorary Air Commodore in No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. Finally he was invested as a Knight of Grace, Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
His first wife having died in 1943, he married Muriel Mary Georgina Duke (d. 13 May 1953) and had one daughter:
- Hon. Katherine Grace Vanneck (b. 10 August 1954), married Nicholas John Bacon on 2 December 1976 and had issue