Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster
Robert George Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster, TD, JP, DL, ( born April 24, 1910 in London, † 19 February 1979 in Enniskillen ) was a British soldier, landowner, businessman and politician. In the 1970s, he was the richest man in Britain.
Origin and Early Years
The father of Robert Grosvenor had the same name as his son and his part was the sixth son and tenth child of Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster and his second wife Katherine Cavendish. His mother was Mabel Crichton, daughter of John Crichton, 4th Earl Erne. His schooling was in Grosvenor Eton. There he was a member of the Junior Division in the Officer Training Corps and attained the rank of Lance Corporal.
1963 died Robert Grosvenor's cousin and former title holder and Robert's brother Gerald became the new Duke of Westminster. A royal Anordnunge ( Royal Warrant of Precedence ) allows him the salutation Lord Robert Grosvenor accept. After the death of his brother in 1967 he was 5th Duke of Westminster. The family is descended from Gilbert le Gros Veneur, a nephew of William the Conqueror. The wealth of the family is primarily due to the fact that she owned farmland that built in the 19th century and became a part of London.
Military career
In June 1938, Robert Grosvenor committed as a second lieutenant to the Light Anti- Aircraft Brigade of London, a British Territorial Army Royal Artillery. At the end of the war he was Major.
On May 1, 1947 Grosvenor was transferred and promoted to the London Yeomanry. In 1949, he joined the North Irish Horse Yeomanry. In November 1949, he was awarded Efficiency Decoration (TD ) for his long service in the Territorial Army and in 1954 he received another medal strips. In February 1956, he was released from active duty and placed on the list of reserve officers. In April 1960, he finally left the service, but he was allowed to lead the rank of lieutenant colonel. He also served since 1971 honorary colonel of the North Irish Horse.
Political career
Robert Grosvenor lived mainly in Northern Ireland. His residence Ely Lodge is located on a peninsula of the Lough Erne near Enniskillen. In 1952 he was appointed High Sheriff of Fermanagh. At the general election in 1955 he was elected for the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the Parliament and in 1959 re-elected. In 1964 he retired from the House of Commons; his successor was his cousin James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn. In Parliament, he became involved mainly for his own constituency, but also worked on the Adoption Act 1964, a law that increasing the number of adoptions to the target had.
Grosvenor took from 1947 also his seat in the House of Lords, however, held despite his political experience there never a speech.
Family
Robert Grosvenor was since December 1946 married to Viola Maud Lyttelton, a daughter of John Cavendish Lyttelton, 9th Viscount Cobham; the couple had three children:
- Leonora Mary Grosvenor ( born 1 February 1949), married to Thomas Patrick Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield,
- Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster (* December 22, 1951 ), married to Natalia Phillips,
- Jane Meriel Grosvenor ( born February 8, 1953), married to Guy David Innes -Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe.