George Henry Robert Child Villiers, 8th Earl of Jersey DL (2 June 1873 – 31 December 1923), was a British peer and

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 in ...

politician from the

Villiers family Villiers ( ) is an aristocratic family in the United Kingdom. Over time, various members of the Villiers family were made knights, baronets, and peers. Peerages held by the Villiers family include the dukedoms of Buckingham (1623–1687) and Cleve ...

. Villiers was the son of

Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey Victor Albert George Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey, (20 March 1845 – 31 May 1915) was a British banker, Conservative politician and colonial administrator from the Villiers family. He served as Governor of New South Wales between 1891 and ...

, and the Honourable Margaret Elizabeth, daughter of

William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh, (17 January 1824 – 21 October 1905) was a British politician. Life He was the eldest of three sons born to Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh and his wife Margarette Willes. He was Lord of the Manor of Hunn ...

Public life

Villiers was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI of England, Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. i ...

and at

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at ...

for university. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1915 and 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" (withou ...

under

David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. He was a Liberal Party (United Kingdom), Liberal Party politician from Wales, known for lea ...

between January and August 1919. He was a

Justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or '' puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the s ...

and deputy lieutenant in Oxfordshire and an

alderman An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...

and vice chairman for

Oxfordshire County Council Oxfordshire County Council is the county council (upper-tier local authority) for the non-metropolitan county of Oxfordshire in the South East of England. It is an elected body responsible for some local government services in the county, incl ...

and a high steward for the city of Oxford. Also a J.P. and an Alderman for Middlesex. Lord Jersey sold the

Child & Co Child & Co. is a private bank. Founded in 1664, it is the oldest bank in the United Kingdom, and the third oldest bank in the world. Formerly independent, it is now owned by the NatWest Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland incorporating Child & Co ...

bank, part of the family's inheritance since the 5th Earl married into the Child family, to Glyn, Mills & Co. Bank in 1923. He was a member of the

Ancient Order of Druids The Ancient Order of Druids (AOD) is the senior neo-druid order in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. It was formed in London, England, in 1781. It is represented in England, Wales, Scotland and the Commonwealth of Nations. Its ...

since 1905.Western Gazette, 25 August 1905

Family

Lord Jersey married Lady Cynthia Almina Constance Mary Needham, daughter of

Francis Needham, 3rd Earl of Kilmorey Francis Charles Needham, 3rd Earl of Kilmorey (2 August 1842 – 28 July 1915), styled Viscount Newry from 1851 to 1880, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Conservative Member of Parliament. Background and education Kilmorey was the eldest son of Fr ...

, and Ellen Constance Baldock, on 8 October 1908. They had four children: *

George Child Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey George Francis Child-Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey (15 February 1910 – 9 August 1998), was an English peer and banker from the Villiers family. Lord Jersey gave one of the family seats, Osterley Park, to the British nation in the late 1940s ...

(1910 – 1998). * Lady Joan Child Villiers (1911–2010), married David Colville, (who died 1986) grandson of

Charles Colville, 1st Viscount Colville of Culross Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

. * Hon. (Edward) Mansel Child Villiers (3 May 1913 – 9 March 1980), married twice (firstly 1934, diss. 1940 to Barbara Mary Frampton and secondly 1946, diss. 1971 to Princess Maria Gloria Pignatelli Aragona Cortez. * Lady Ann Child Villiers (1916 – 2006), married (1937) Major Alexander Henry Elliot (d. 1986).

Notes

References

* 1873 births 1923 deaths 19th-century English nobility 20th-century English nobility 8

George Child Villiers, 8th Earl of Jersey George Henry Robert Child Villiers, 8th Earl of Jersey DL (2 June 1873 – 31 December 1923), was a British peer and Conservative politician from the Villiers family. Villiers was the son of Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey, and the Ho ...

Conservative Party (UK) hereditary peers Deputy Lieutenants of Oxfordshire Earls in the Jacobite peerage Members of Middlesex County Council Members of the Ancient Order of Druids Viscounts Grandison {{England-earl-stub