Richard Francis Wellesley, 6th Earl Cowley (12 June 194613 December 1975), known as Viscount Dangan from 1962 to 1968, was a British

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

politician. Cowley was the only son of Denis Arthur Wellesley, 5th Earl Cowley (eldest son of the actor

Arthur Wellesley, 4th Earl Cowley Lieutenant Christian Arthur Wellesley, 4th Earl Cowley (25 December 1890 – 29 August 1962), known as Viscount Dangan from 1895 to 1919, was an English aristocrat and actor known by the name Arthur Wellesley. Early life Wellesley was born on 25 ...

), and his first wife Elizabeth Anne (née Papillon, a descendant of English politician

Thomas Papillon Thomas Papillon (6 September 1623 – 5 May 1702) was an English merchant and politician, an influential figure in the City of London for half a century. He served as a Commissioner for the Victualling of the Navy from 1689 to 1699. Early life ...

), and was educated at

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England * Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States * Éton, a commune in the Meuse dep ...

. He succeeded in the earldom on his father's early death in 1968 and took his seat on the Conservative benches in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

. He served briefly as a

Lord-in-waiting Lords-in-waiting (male) or baronesses-in-waiting (female) are peers who hold office in the Royal Household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom. In the official Court Circular they are styled "Lord in Waiting" or "Baroness in Waiting" (without ...

(government whip in the House of Lords) under

Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George Heath (9 July 191617 July 2005), often known as Ted Heath, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conserv ...

from January to March 1974. Lord Cowley married Maria, daughter of Enrique Buenaño, in 1971. They had two daughters. He died in December 1975, aged only 29. As he had no sons he was succeeded in the earldom by his uncle Garret Wellesley.

References

* Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. Richard had a son Adam J. Wellesley born out of wedlock causing him not to be the 7th Earl Cowley who married Elizabeth R. Brice in 2000 in Northampton Eng. *
www.thepeerage.com

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cowley, Richard Wellesley, 6th Earl 1946 births 1975 deaths

Richard Wellesley, 6th Earl Cowley Richard Francis Wellesley, 6th Earl Cowley (12 June 194613 December 1975), known as Viscount Dangan from 1962 to 1968, was a British Conservative politician. Cowley was the only son of Denis Arthur Wellesley, 5th Earl Cowley (eldest son of the act ...

Conservative Party (UK) hereditary peers Earls in the Peerage of the United Kingdom English people of Irish descent People educated at Eton College