Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster

For other people named Robert Grosvenor, see Robert Grosvenor (disambiguation).

His Grace The Duke of Westminster

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert George Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster DSO TD JP DL (24 April 1910 – 19 February 1979), was a British soldier, landowner, businessman and politician. In the 1970s he was the richest man in Britain.

Background

Grosvenor was born Robert Grosvenor, the son of Lord Hugh Grosvenor, sixth son and tenth child of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster by his second wife, the Honourable Katherine Cavendish. His mother, Lady Mabel Crichton, was the daughter of John Crichton, 4th Earl Erne.

Military career

Grosvenor had a military career. He was commissioned into the 11th (City of London) Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) in 1938. He reached the rank of Major during the Second World War. He transferred to the City of London Yeomanry in 1947 and the North Irish Horse in 1949. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1953 and resigned his commission in 1960.

Political career

Grosvenor lived in Northern Ireland most of his life. His house was on an island in the middle of Lough Erne. In the 1955 general election, he was elected to Parliament as member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone. Re-elected in 1959, he retired in 1964, he was succeeded by his cousin, the Marquess of Hamilton. In parliament he stuck mainly to constituency issues, but was responsible for a bill to help increase adoptions, which became the Adoption Act 1964. He was described in his predecessor’s maiden speech as popular and well-liked.

Family

On 3 December, 1946, he married Hon. Viola Maud Lyttelton, a daughter of the 9th Viscount Cobham and they had three children:

• Lady Leonora Mary Grosvenor (b. 1 February 1949), married Thomas Patrick Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield and had issue.
• Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster (b. 22 December 1951), married Natalia Phillips and had issue.
• Lady Jane Meriel Grosvenor (b. 8 February 1953), married Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe and had issue.

In 1963, his cousin died and his brother Gerald became Duke of Westminster. This gave Robert Grosvenor the style Lord Robert Grosvenor. Upon his brother's death he became 5th Duke of Westminster. Although he took his seat in the House of Lords, he never spoke, surprisingly considering his political career. Westminster was appointed honorary colonel of the North Irish Horse in 1971. He died in Enniskillen in 1979.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Westinster
• 5th Duke of Wesminster

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Philip Clarke	Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1955–1964	Succeeded by Marquess of Hamilton
Honorary titles
Preceded by Thomas Patrick David Scott	Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh 1977–1979	Succeeded by The Duchess of Westminster
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gerald Grosvenor	Duke of Westminster 1967–1979	Succeeded by Gerald Grosvenor