Edward Gerald Strutt

Edward Gerald Strutt CH (10 April 1854 in Witham, Essex – 8 March 1930 in Hatfield Peverel, Essex) was a British agriculturist who played an important role in British food and agricultural planning during World War I, for which he received the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1917. As well as running his family's estates, advising on agriculture, and serving on various government committees, he co-founded the surveyors and land agents Strutt & Parker.

Family and early life

He was the fifth son of John James Strutt, second Baron Rayleigh, born at the family estate, Terling Place, in Essex in 1854. He was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was then apprenticed to a firm of land agents, Rawlence and Squarey.

Edward married Maria Louisa Tufnell (1954–10 May 1938) on 29 October 1878. They had six children.

• • Emily Norah Strutt (10 September 1879–13 October 1966)
• Captain Gerald Murray Strutt (9 October 1880–16 November 1955) he married Rhoda Hope on 14 July 1910. They had three children:
  • Pamela Strutt (29 November 1911) she married Richard Gatty on 17 October 1935. They had four children.
  • Major James Hedley Strutt (20 April 1913–25 July 1965)
  • Ursula Joyce Strutt (17 April 1917–31 January 2007); she married Major James Harden on 27 July 1948. They had three children.
• John James Strutt (26 October 1881–12 November 1968); he married Hon. Agnes Dewar (daughter of John Alexander Dewar, 1st Baron Forteviot) on 24 February 1914. They had two children:
  • Edward Alexander Strutt (29 November 1914–21 October 1991); he married Janet Phillips-Higgins on 22 April 1975.
  • Joan Eleanor Strutt (13 October 1916–31 May 2006)
• Evelyn Mary Strutt (6 February 1883–10 December 1965); she married Major Claude Tritton on 17 July 1906. They had two sons.
• Captain Edward Jolliffe Strutt (4 January 1884–24 May 1964); he married Amelie Devas on 7 November 1912. They had three children:
  • Lt.-Col. Mark Frederick Strutt (24 September 1913–16 June 1982)
  • Sir Nigel Strutt (18 January 1916–28 January 2004)
  • Gillian Leonora Strutt (11 June 1918)
• Clara Helena Strutt (25 March 1888–1972)

He was the brother of physicist John Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh, (co-discoverer of argon and discoverer of Rayleigh scattering) and uncle of physicist Robert Strutt, 4th Baron Rayleigh.

Career

In 1877 he cofounded the firm of Strutt & Parker, surveyors and land agents, with his childhood friend Charles Parker. Initially the firm acted as land agents for Guy's Hospital, London. He later became president of the Surveyors' Institute.

In 1876, he began the management of the family's estates in Essex, but initially most of the land was let out, requiring little work. However, from 1878 following bad harvests and a fall in the price of wheat, he took more direct control, switching to a system of arable and dairy farming. His improvements to dairy farming included the growing of lucerne (alfalfa) and other grasses as feed, increased hygiene measures, and testing for tuberculin to remove sickly cattle. He founded Lord Rayleigh's Dairies Ltd to sell his milk.

During World War I, he was involved in food and agricultural policy, serving as a member of Lord Milner's food production committee. Submarine warfare severely reduced food imports, meaning it was essential to maximise food production in the UK. He helped frame the Corn Production Act 1917 which encouraged ploughing up pasture and replacing with crops. He served on many government committees: on post-war agriculture policy, the Royal Commission on Oxford and Cambridge universities (1920–22) and the Royal Commission on tariffs (1923). He served as an honorary advisor to the Board of Agriculture, and was an alderman of Essex County Council.

He pioneered sugar-beet production in the UK.

Death

He died 8 March 1930 in Hatfield Peverel, Essex, UK, following heart trouble. His estate had a gross value of GBP 170,636.

Honours

He was made a Companion of Honour in 1917 for his wartime service.