Henry Fox-Strangways, 5th Earl of Ilchester

Henry Edward Fox-Strangways, 5th Earl of Ilchester PC (13 February 1847 – 6 December 1905), known as Henry Fox-Strangways until 1865, was a British peer and Liberal politician. He served as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms under William Ewart Gladstone between January and February 1874.

The Right Honourable The Earl of Ilchester PC
"Fifth Earl": The Earl of Ilchester as caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, July 1882.
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms
In office 1 January 1874 – 17 February 1874
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	William Ewart Gladstone
Preceded by	The Earl Cowper
Succeeded by	The Marquess of Exeter
Personal details
Born	13 February 1847
Died	6 December 1905 (1905-12-07) (aged 58)
Nationality	British
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Lady Mary Dawson (d. 1935)

Left: Arms of Strangways: Sable, two lions passant paly of six argent and gules. The Earl of Ilchester's arms are Strangways quartering Fox;[1] right: Canting arms of Fox: Ermine, on a chevron azure three fox's heads and necks erased or on a canton of the second a fleur-de-lys of the third

Origins

He was the son of Hon. John Fox-Strangways, fourth son of Henry Thomas Fox-Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester. His mother was Amelia Marjoribanks, daughter of Edward Marjoribanks. In 1874 he inherited the Holland House estate in London from his distant cousin Baron Holland.

Career

He was educated at Eton College.[2] Lord Ilchester succeeded his uncle in the earldom of Ilchester in 1865 and was able to take his seat in the House of Lords on his 21st birthday in 1868. In January 1874, at the age of only 26, he was appointed Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms in the Liberal administration of William Ewart Gladstone,[3] a post he held until the government fell the following month.[4] He was admitted to the Privy Council in February of that year.[5] Lord Ilchester never held political office again but served as Lord Lieutenant of Dorset from 1885 to 1905.[2]

Marriage and children

In 1872 Lord Ilchester married Lady Mary Eleanor Anne Dawson (died 1935), a daughter of Richard Dawson, 1st Earl of Dartrey, by whom he had children including:

• Giles Fox-Strangways, 6th Earl of Ilchester (1874-1959), eldest son and heir.

Death and burial

He died in December 1905, aged 58, and was buried in the family vault at Melbury Osmond, Dorset. He was succeeded in his titles by his son Giles Fox-Strangways, 6th Earl of Ilchester.[2]

References

1. Montague-Smith, P.W. (ed.), Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage, Kelly's Directories Ltd, Kingston-upon-Thames, 1968, p.607, Earl of Ilchester
2. thepeerage.com Henry Edward Fox-Strangways, 5th Earl of Ilchester
3. "No. 24053". The London Gazette. 13 January 1874. p. 135.
4. "No. 24071". The London Gazette. 3 March 1874. p. 1452.
5. "No. 24068". The London Gazette. 24 February 1874. p. 808.

Political offices
Preceded by The Earl Cowper	Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms 1874	Succeeded by The Marquess of Exeter
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl of Shaftesbury	Lord Lieutenant of Dorset 1885–1905	Succeeded by John Mount Batten
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by William Fox-Strangways	Earl of Ilchester 1865–1905	Succeeded by Giles Fox-Strangways