He succeeded his father in the Lilford barony in 1861.[2] Lilford was one of the eight founders of the British Ornithologists' Union in 1858 and its president from 1867 until his death. He was also the first President of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society.
Lilford travelled widely,especially around the Mediterranean and his extensive collection of birds was maintained in the grounds of Lilford Hall,his second residence was Bank Hall in Bretherton,Lancashire,which he inherited from his father (3rd Baron Lilford),who inherited it from George Anthony Legh Keck.[3] He inherited the Holland Estates from his mother's family.
Until 1891,his aviaries featured birds from around the globe,including rheas,kiwis,pink-headed ducks and a pair of free-flying bearded vultures. He was responsible for the introduction of the little owl into England in the 1880s.[4]
He wrote about birds including Notes on the Birds of Northamptonshire and Neighbourhood (1895) and Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands,which was completed by Osbert Salvin after his death.[1]
Lord Lilford married,firstly,Emma Elizabeth Brandling,daughter of Robert William Brandling,in 1859. After her death in 1884 he married,secondly,Clementina Georgina,daughter of Ker Baillie-Hamilton,in 1885.[1]
He died in June 1896,aged 63,and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son from his first marriage,John. Lady Lilford died in 1929. A metal plaque commemorating a "Cedar of Atlantica" planted by Lady Lilford in 1897,was found in 2005 and is displayed in the visitor centre at Bank Hall.[3]
A lion's jamb couped and erect Gules, holding a staff headed with a fleur-de-lis also erect Or
Escutcheon
Or, a lion's jamb erased in bend dexter, between two cross crosslets fitchee in bend sinister Gules
Supporters
Dexter, a reaper habited in a loose shirt, leather breeches loose at the knees, white stockings, and black hat and shoes; in his hat ears of corn, in his right band a reaping-hook, and at his feet a garb, all proper. Sinister, a man in the uniform of the' Northamptonshire yeomanry cavalry, riz. a green long coat, orna-mented on the cuffs and button-holes with gold lace, yellow waistcoat and breeches, and black top boots; a black stock; a round hat, adorned with a white feather in front and a green one behind, the sword-belt inscribed with the letters N.Y. and the exterior hand resting on his sword sheathed and point downwards
↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Lilford", p. 158).
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