Francis Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton

Last updated

Gilian Soames
(m. 1957;div. 1962)
Kyra Aslin
(m. 1963;div. 1973)
Suzanne Suckling
(m. 1974;died 2018)
The Earl of Wilton
Earl of Wilton
Assumed office
1999
Children
  • Julian, Viscount Grey de Wilton
  • Lady Georgina Mitev
Parents
Alma mater Melbourne University
Earl of Wilton COA.svg

Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton (born 8 February 1934), also known as Lord Francis Ebury, [1] is an Anglo-Australian aristocrat, and academic.

Contents

Early life

Lord Wilton is the eldest son of Robert Egerton Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury, DSO, and his first wife, Anne Acland-Troyte who, on 23 December 1941, married her second husband, Henry Peregrine Rennie Hoare, son of Lady Geraldine Mariana Hoare (nee Hervey). Lord Wilton succeeded his father as 6th Baron Ebury in 1957 and his fourth cousin, Seymour Egerton, as 8th Earl of Wilton in 1999.

As the great-great-great-grandson of the Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster, Lord Wilton is also heir presumptive to the title Marquess of Westminster currently held by Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster whose father, Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster is Lord Wilton's fourth cousin. [2]

Career

Educated at Eton College, he pursued a career in the financial services industry in London, Melbourne and Hong Kong, before taking a doctorate in Philosophy-Arts at Melbourne University (2001), where he taught as Dr Francis Ebury. [3]

Lord Wilton served on the Board of Directors of Victorian Opera (Melbourne) 2012–17. [4]

Marriages and children

Lord Wilton has married three times. He was married firstly on 10 December 1957 to Gillian Elfrida Astley Soames (marriage dissolved 1962). They had one son:

Secondly, he married Kyra Aslin on 8 March 1963 (marriage dissolved 1973) without issue.

Thirdly, he married Suzanne Jean Suckling in 1974. They remained married until her death 44 years later and had one daughter:

His third wife was a biographer who wrote under the name "Sue Ebury": The Many Lives of Kenneth Myer; Weary the Life of Sir Edward Dunlop, Weary: King Of The River. An editor and publisher, Lady Wilton was also a member of the Development Council of the National Library of Australia and patron of the Australian Garden History Society.

Styles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton</span>

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Thomas Grey Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton, known as Sir Thomas Grey Egerton, Bt from 1766 to 1784, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1772 to 1784 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Grey de Wilton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury</span> British courtier and Whig politician

Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury PC, styled Lord Robert Grosvenor from 1831 to 1857, was a British courtier and Whig politician. He served as Comptroller of the Household between 1830 and 1834 and as Treasurer of the Household between 1846 and 1847. In 1857 he was ennobled as Baron Ebury.

Robert Egerton Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury, DSO TD, was a British peer, military officer and racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Grosvenor, 2nd Baron Ebury</span> British politician

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Captain The Honourable Norman de l'Aigle Grosvenor, was a British Liberal Party politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egerton family</span> British aristocratic family

The Egerton family is a British aristocratic family. Over time, several members of the Egerton family were made Dukes, Earls, knights, baronets and peers. Hereditary titles held by the Egerton family include the dukedoms of Bridgewater (1720–1803) and Sutherland, as well as the earldoms of Bridgewater (1617–1829), Wilton (1801–1999) and Egerton (1897–1909). Several other members of the family have also risen to prominence. The Egerton family motto is Virtuti non armis fido.

References

  1. "Our Patrons". Melbourne Recital Centre. Retrieved 15 May 2023. Our Patrons : Dr Victor Wayne & Dr Karen Wayne OAM. $1,000+ ... Lord Francis Ebury & the late Lady Suzanne Ebury
  2. Morris, Susan (2020). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Debrett's. p. 4797. Retrieved 19 May 2022. Wilton, Earl of - ([current earl is] Francis Edgerton Grosvenor) ...born 1934...8th Earl of Wilton in 1999...h[heir] p[presumptive] to the Marquessate of Westminster...[Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster is a fourth cousin of Francis Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton]...
  3. University of Melbourne: Publications (Dr Francis Ebury)
  4. www.victorianopera.com.au
  5. www.endeavor.bg
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Earl of Wilton
1999–present
Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Julian Grosvenor,
Viscount Grey de Wilton
Preceded by Baron Ebury
1957–present