Henry Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath
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Henry Frederick Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath JP
(26 January 1905 – 30 June 1992), styled Lord Henry Thynne until 1916 and Viscount Weymouth between 1916 and 1946, was a British
politician, aristocrat and landowner.
and Violet Mordaunt, and was educated at Harrow
and Christ Church, Oxford
. In 1916 he became the heir to the family titles and estates, after his elder brother John was killed in action in the First World War
.
In the 1920s the tabloid press considered him one of the group it called the Bright Young People
.
Member of Parliament
for Frome
between 1931 and 1935, and served as a member of the Council of the Duchy of Cornwall
from 1933 to 1936 and Justice of the Peace
for Wiltshire
in 1938.
He gained the rank of Major in the service of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
, fought in the Second World War and was afterwards awarded the Bronze Star
and the Silver Star
.
Thynne succeeded his father as Marquess of Bath
in 1946. He was noted for his forestry work on the ancestral estate of Longleat
. It was he who developed the safari park and opened the house to the public in 1949.
, and they were divorced in 1953. They had five children:
After becoming Lord Bath he married, secondly, Virginia Penelope Parsons, on 15 July 1953. They had one daughter:
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(26 January 1905 – 30 June 1992), styled Lord Henry Thynne until 1916 and Viscount Weymouth between 1916 and 1946, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician, aristocrat and landowner.
Background and education
Lord Bath was second but eldest surviving the son of Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of BathThomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath
Thomas Henry Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath KG, CB, PC, JP , styled Viscount Weymouth until 1896, was a British landowner and Conservative politician. He held ministerial office as Under-Secretary of State for India in 1905 and Master of the Horse between 1922 and 1924...
and Violet Mordaunt, and was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. In 1916 he became the heir to the family titles and estates, after his elder brother John was killed in action in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In the 1920s the tabloid press considered him one of the group it called the Bright Young People
Bright Young People
The Bright Young People was a nickname given by the tabloid press to a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London. They threw elaborate fancy dress parties, went on elaborate treasure hunts through nighttime London, and drank heavily and experimented with drugs—all of which...
.
Political and military careers
As Viscount Weymouth, he was elected ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Frome
Frome (UK Parliament constituency)
Frome was a constituency centred on the town of Frome in Somerset. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832, until it was abolished for the 1950 general election...
between 1931 and 1935, and served as a member of the Council of the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
from 1933 to 1936 and Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in 1938.
He gained the rank of Major in the service of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the TA was greatly reduced...
, fought in the Second World War and was afterwards awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
.
Thynne succeeded his father as Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Bath is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth. The Thynne family descends from the soldier and courtier Sir John Thynne , who constructed Longleat House between 1567 and 1579...
in 1946. He was noted for his forestry work on the ancestral estate of Longleat
Longleat
Longleat is an English stately home, currently the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park. The house is set...
. It was he who developed the safari park and opened the house to the public in 1949.
Family
On 27 October 1927 Lord Weymouth married, firstly, Daphne Vivian, daughter of George Vivian, 4th Baron VivianGeorge Vivian, 4th Baron Vivian
George Crespigny Brabazon Vivian, 4th Lord Vivian, DSO TD was a British soldier who served with distinction in both the Second Anglo-Boer War and World War I.-Early life:...
, and they were divorced in 1953. They had five children:
- Lady Caroline Jane Thynne (1928–1995), married David Somerset, 11th Duke of BeaufortDavid Somerset, 11th Duke of BeaufortDavid Robert Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort is a British peer. He was nominated to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
and had issue. - Thomas Timothy Thynne (1929–1930), died in infancy.
- Alexander George Thynn, 7th Marquess of BathAlexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of BathAlexander George Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath , styled Viscount Weymouth between 1946 and 1992, is an English politician, artist and author...
(b. 6 May 1932) - Lord Christopher John Thynne (b. 9 April 1934), married Antonia Palmer, daughter of Sir Anthony Palmer, 4th Baronet and had issue.
- Lord Valentine Charles Thynne (1937–1979), married firstly, Veronica Jacks and had issue. He married secondly, Susanne Alder and married thirdly, Liese Dennis.
After becoming Lord Bath he married, secondly, Virginia Penelope Parsons, on 15 July 1953. They had one daughter:
- Lady Silvy Cerne Thynne (b. 22 December 1958), married Iain McQuiston and has issue.
Titles
- Lord Henry Thynne, 1905–1916
- Viscount Weymouth, 1916–1931
- Viscount Weymouth, MP, 1931–1935
- Viscount Weymouth, 1935–1946
- The Most Honourable The Marquess of Bath, 1946–1992