Margaret Diana Alexander, Countess Alexander of Tunis (''née'' Bingham; 16 September 1905 – 17 August 1977) was a British aristocrat and charity activist who served as Vice-regal consort of Canada. Born in

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary. An Civil parish#Ancient parishes, ancient parish and latterly a ...

, she was the youngest of four children born to

Lord Bingham Sir Thomas Henry Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill, (13 October 193311 September 2010), was an eminent British judge who was successively Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice and Senior Law Lord. He was described as the greatest lawyer of ...

(later the

Earl of Lucan Earl of Lucan is a title which has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland for related families. History Patrick Sarsfield was one of the senior commanders of James VII & II (deposed in 1688) in battles in Ireland with William of ...

), and Violet Sylvia Blanche Spender-Clay, sister of

Herbert Spender-Clay Herbert Henry Spender-Clay, PC CMG DL JP (4 June 1875 – 15 February 1937) was an English soldier and Conservative Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1910 to 1937. Early life Herbert Henry Spender-Clay was born on 4 Jun ...

. She was educated at

Notting Hill High School Notting Hill and Ealing High School is an independent school for girls aged 4 – 18 in Ealing, London. Founded in 1873, it is one of the 26 schools that make up the Girls' Day School Trust. It has a Junior Department of 310 girls (ages 4–11) ...

. On 14 October 1931, she married

Harold Alexander Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, (10 December 1891 – 16 June 1969) was a senior British Army officer who served with distinction in both the First and the Second World War and, afterwards, as Governor Ge ...

. He was a future

field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

and was created Viscount Alexander of Tunis in 1946 and

Earl Alexander of Tunis Earl Alexander of Tunis is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 14 March 1952 for the prominent military commander Field Marshal Harold Alexander, 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis. He had already been created Viscount ...

in 1952. Owing to her husband's career, the family moved frequently, and they lived in 36 homes during their marriage, during which time she held several prominent roles. In 1946, on her husband's appointment as

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, t ...

, she became vice-regal consort, and

châtelain Châtelain (from la, castellanus, derived from ''castellum''; pertaining to a castle, fortress. Middle English: '' castellan'' from Anglo-Norman: ''castellain'' and Old French: ''castelain'') was originally the French title for the keeper of a c ...

e of

Rideau Hall Rideau Hall (officially Government House) is the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and their representative, the governor general of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main b ...

. In recognition of this she was made a Dame Grand Cross of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

in 1954. She held the office of Justice of the Peace () for Berkshire from 1956 to 1975. In 1970, while living at

Windsor Great Park Windsor Great Park is a Royal Park of , including a deer park, to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. It is adjacent to the private Home Park, which is nearer the castle. The park was, for many ...

, she was appointed a

Deputy Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spai ...

Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire. Lord-Lieutenants of Berkshire *Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk 1545–22 August 1545 *Edw ...

, one of the first women to hold the role of JP. Lady Margaret was active at the

Women's Voluntary Service The Royal Voluntary Service (known as the Women's Voluntary Services (WVS) from 1938 to 1966; Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) from 1966 to 2004 and WRVS from 2004 to 2013) is a voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need ...

during the Second World War, working for the department in charge of evacuation of small children. She was Vice-Chairman of the WVS 1952–53 and served on the board of the

English-Speaking Union The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational membership organistation. Founded by the journalist Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1918, it aims to bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures, by building skill ...

from 1953 to 1971. Between 1960 and 1965, she established the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust at the ESU. She served as chairman of the Juvenile Court of Windsor County Division, and set up a probation hostel for young men in the area, visiting the hostel weekly from 1965 to 1976. She died in

Bracknell Bracknell () is a large town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, the westernmost area within the Greater London Built-up Area, Greater London Urban Area and the administrative centre of the Bracknell Forest, Borough of Bracknell Forest. It l ...

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

in 1977, aged 71.''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007''

Family and issue

The Alexanders had three children and adopted a fourth, Susan. *Lady Rose Maureen Alexander (born 28 October 1932), who married Lt. Col. Humphrey Crossman * Shane William Desmond Alexander, 2nd Earl Alexander of Tunis (born 30 June 1935) *Brian James Alexander (born 31 July 1939), who is heir presumptive to the title *Lady Susan Mary Alexander (born 26 February 1948), married Andrew Paulet Hamilton

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander of Tunis, Margaret Alexander, Countess 1905 births 1977 deaths British countesses Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Dames of Grace of the Order of St John Canadian viceregal consorts Daughters of Irish earls People educated at Notting Hill & Ealing High School Bingham family (Ireland) Wives of knights