John Vivian, 4th Baron Swansea

John Hussey Hamilton Vivian, 4th Baron Swansea (1 Jan 1925 – 24 June 2005) was a British peer, sports shooter and lobbyist notable for his role in the debate over gun control in the United Kingdom.

Lord John Swansea

Personal information
Full name	John Hussey Hamilton Vivian, Lord Swansea
Born	(1925-01-01) 1 January 1925
Died	Pimlico, London
Sport
Sport	Sports shooting
Medal record Representing  Wales Commonwealth Games 1966 Kingston Full Bore Rifle 1982 Brisbane Full Bore Rifle

He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in French and German.[1] He succeeded his father to the Barony in 1934.[1] He was Deputy Lieutenant for Powys in 1962.[1] In 1966, Vivian, as Lord John Swansea, represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games, where he took Gold in the Full Bore Rifle event.[2] He took a Silver in the same event at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.[2]

Swansea was Vice-Chairman of the National Rifle Association.[3] In this capacity he lobbied against legislation drawn in the aftermath of the Hungerford Massacre and the Dunblane Massacre, including a ban on the private possession of pistols.[2] He did, however, support the banning of Kalashnikov rifles and a requirement for shotguns not in use to be locked up securely.[2] He was captain of the House of Lords shooting team, which was forced to shut down after 80 years. Swansea resigned the Conservative whip and sat as a Crossbencher, before losing his place in the House as a result of the House of Lords Act 1999.[2]

References

1. "Swansea, 4th Baron, (John Hussey Hamilton Vivian) (1 January 1925 – 24 June 2005)". UK Who's Who. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
2. "Lord Swansea". The Telegraph. 5 July 2005. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
3. Cole, Rob. "Lord Swansea". The Independent. Retrieved 4 October 2018.