Arthur Chichester, 4th Baron Templemore

Arthur Claud Spencer Chichester, 4th Baron Templemore, KCVO, DSO, OBE, PC, DL (12 September 1880 – 2 October 1953) was a British soldier and politician of Anglo-Irish descent.

The Lord Templemore
Arms of the Baron Templemore
Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords
In office
1940–1945
Preceded byThe Earl of Lucan
Succeeded byThe Earl Fortescue
Personal details
Born
Arthur Claud Spencer Chichester

(1880-09-12)12 September 1880
Westminster, London, England[1]
Died2 October 1953(1953-10-02) (aged 73)
County Wicklow, Ireland
Political partyConservative
EducationHarrow School
Alma materRoyal Military College, Sandhurst
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1907–1918
1939–1944
RankMajor
UnitRoyal Fusiliers
Irish Guards
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
World War I
AwardsQueen's South Africa Medal
Tibet Medal
Royal Victorian Order
Distinguished Service Order
Order of the British Empire

Early life

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Chichester was the eldest son of the 3rd Baron Templemore and his wife, Evelyn (née Stracey-Clitherow). From his father's second marriage, he had a younger half-brother, Sir Gerald Chichester, a diplomat and courtier who served as Private Secretary to Queen Mary.[2]

He was educated at Harrow and trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers as a second lieutenant on 20 January 1900.

Career

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He fought in the Second Boer War, and was promoted to lieutenant on 23 February 1901,[3] staying in South Africa until the end of the war, when he returned home on the SS Assaye in September 1902.[4] When he was back in the United Kingdom, he returned as a regular lieutenant in his regiment in November 1902.[5] He later served in Mauritius, India, and the British expedition to Tibet.[6]

By now a Captain, Chichester distinguished himself in the First World War with his service in France and Italy, becoming a Major with the Irish Guards and winning along with many other awards the DSO (1918) and an OBE (1919).[6]

In 1924, he succeeded his father as fourth Baron Templemore, and three years later was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Earl of Onslow as Under-Secretary of State for War and Paymaster General.[6]

Lord Templemore was a Lord in Waiting to George V from February to June, 1929 and again between 1931 and 1934. He was also Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard for 11 years (1934–1945), and served as Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords (1940–1945). He was appointed KCVO in 1938.[6] He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.

Personal life

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Templemore married the Hon.Clare Meriel Wingfield, second daughter of Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt, at St George's, Hanover Square, London, in 1911.[7] They had three sons:

The fourth baron died in 1953 in County Wicklow. His second son succeeded him in the barony and in 1975 inherited the title of Marquess of Donegall in the Peerage of Ireland from a distant cousin.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Crisp, Frederick Arthur (Ulster King of Arms) (1911). Visitation of Ireland – Volume 5.
  2. ^ "A DISTINGUISHED CHARLWOOD RESIDENT. SIR GERALD CHICHESTER'S NOTABLE CAREER". The Surrey Mirror and County Post. 13 October 1939. p. 10. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  3. ^ Hart′s Army list, 1903
  4. ^ "The Army in South Africa – Troops returning Home". The Times. No. 36865. London. 5 September 1902. p. 6.
  5. ^ "No. 27494". The London Gazette. 11 November 1902. p. 7167.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Lord Templemore: Soldier and statesman". The Times. 5 October 1953. p. 11.
  7. ^ "Marriages: The Hon. Claud Chichester and the Hon. Clare Wingfield". The Times. 11 January 1911. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Obituary". The Times. 1 January 1943. p. 4.
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Political offices
Preceded by Lord-in-waiting
1929
Succeeded by
New government
Preceded by
New government
Lord-in-waiting
1931–1934
Succeeded by
Preceded by Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
1934–1945
Succeeded by
Preceded by Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
1940–1945
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords
1940–1945
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Baron Templemore
1924–1953
Succeeded by