David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss

Francis David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss and 8th Earl of March KT ( born January 12, 1912 in Stanway, † December 12, 2008 in Edinburgh ) was a British peer.

Life and career

Charteris first attended Eton College and then studied at Balliol College, Oxford University. He followed in 1937 by his grandfather as Earl of Wemyss and March. From 1937 to 1944 he was District Commissioner in Basutoland, now Lesotho, and has held the rank of Major in the British Army. During World War II he served in North Africa. In 1940 he married Mavis Murray, with whom he had four children.

After his return to the United Kingdom saw especially for the preservation of Scottish cultural heritage and landscapes. For 23 years ( 1946-1969 ) he was chairman of the National Trust for Scotland and subsequently to 1991, president of the organization. For over three decades ( 1949-84 ), he chaired the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. In 1966 he became a Knight of the Thistle Order, the Scottish equivalent of the English Order of the Garter, was appointed. In the Royal Company of Archers, he held the rank of lieutenant.

In the years 1959, 1960 and 1977 he was on the proposal of the respective Prime Minister Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Furthermore, there was Charteris 1967-1987 regional as Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian representative of the crown, and from 1974 to 2007 as Lord Clerk Register, one of the Great Officers of State for Scotland. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of Standard Life and Scottish Television. Successor as Lord Clerk Register, he was the former Lord Chancellor James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern

Family and Private

Charteris first wife Mavis died in 1988 and in 1995 he married his second wife Shelagh Kennedy.

Charteris lived in the ancestral home of the Earls, Gosford House, he died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Edinburgh. his titles went over to his son James.