John David James Dalrymple, 14th Earl of Stair (born 4 September 1961) is a British politician who, since 2008, has been a

crossbench A crossbencher is an independent or minor party member of some legislatures, such as the British House of Lords and the Parliament of Australia. They take their name from the crossbenches, between and perpendicular to the government and oppositi ...

member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

Background

Stair is the eldest child of John Dalrymple, 13th Earl of Stair and Davina Katherine Bowes-Lyon (2 May 1930 - 1 November 2017), daughter of

David Bowes-Lyon Sir David Bowes-Lyon KCVO (2 May 1902 – 13 September 1961) was the sixth son and last child of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Cecilia Nina Cavendish-Bentinck, as well as their tenth and youngest child. His el ...

, brother of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Lord Stair's mother, Davina, therefore, was a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and he is a second cousin of The King,

The Princess Royal Princess Royal is a style customarily (but not automatically) awarded by a British monarch to their eldest daughter. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal family. There have been sev ...

The Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was D ...

, and

The Earl of Wessex Earl of Wessex is a title that has been created twice in British history – once in the pre-Conquest Anglo-Saxon nobility of England, and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In the 6th century AD the region of Wessex (the lands of the W ...

. Through his mother, he is descended from the

Bowes-Lyon The Bowes-Lyon family descends from George Bowes of Gibside and Streatlam Castle ''(1701–1760)'', a County Durham landowner and politician, through John Bowes, 9th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, chief of the Clan Lyon. Following the marri ...

, Astor, and

Cavendish-Bentinck Cavendish-Bentinck is a surname associated with the Dukes of Portland and their descendants. Bentinck is a Dutch surname brought to England by William Bentinck, an advisor to William III of England. Cavendish was added to the family name by ...

families. Educated at Harrow School &

RMA Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

, he served with 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in the Falklands War.

Political career

On inheriting his peerage in 1996, Lord Stair entered the House of Lords and sat as a crossbencher—that is, an independent. In 1999, the House of Lords Act removed the rights of all hereditary peers to sit in the House; however, ninety-two peers were permitted to remain in the House, elected by other peers. He failed to be elected at that time. Following the death of

Davina Ingrams, 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth Davina Marcia Herbert Ingrams, 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth (10 July 1938 – 24 February 2008) was a crossbench member of the House of Lords, continuing to sit after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999 as an elected peer. Biography ...

in 2008, Lord Stair was elected to the Lords. On 13 October 2011, he made a speech in the Aviation Debate.

Family

Lord Stair married Emily Mary Julia Stonor, daughter of Ralph Stonor, 7th Baron Camoys and Elizabeth Mary Hyde Parker, in 2006. They have two children: *John James Thomas Dalrymple, Viscount Dalrymple (born 3 January 2008) *Lady Elizabeth Alice Mary Lily Dalrymple (born 24 July 2012)

Arms

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Stair, John Dalrymple, 14th Earl Of 1961 births Living people People educated at Harrow School Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Astor family English people of American descent Earls of Stair Place of birth missing (living people) Crossbench hereditary peers

Stair Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...