Muriel FitzRoy, 1st Viscountess Daventry (8 August 1869 – 8 July 1962) was a British aristocrat and the wife of

Edward FitzRoy Edward Algernon FitzRoy (24 July 1869 – 3 March 1943) was a British Conservative politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1928 until his death in 1943. Early life FitzRoy was the second son of the 3rd Baron Southampt ...

, who was

Speaker of the House of Commons Speaker of the House of Commons is a political leadership position found in countries that have a House of Commons, where the membership of the body elects a speaker to lead its proceedings. Systems that have such a position include: * Speaker of ...

from 1928 until his death in 1943.

Biography

Lady Daventry was born Muriel Douglas-Pennant, elder daughter of

Lt Col Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

Hon Hon or HON may refer to: People * Han (surname) (Chinese: 韩/韓), also romanized Hon * Louis Hon (1924–2008), French footballer * Priscilla Hon (born 1998), Australian tennis player Other uses * Hon (Baltimore), a cultural stereotype of ...

Archibald Charles Henry Douglas-Pennant, second son of

Edward Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn (20 June 1800 – 31 March 1886), was a Scottish landowner in Wales, and a Conservative Party politician. He played a major part in the development of the Welsh slate industry. Life Born Edwa ...

. On 6 May 1943, just over two months after the death of her husband, she was created Viscountess Daventry, of

Daventry Daventry ( , historically ) is a market town and civil parish in the West Northamptonshire unitary authority in Northamptonshire, England, close to the border with Warwickshire. At the 2021 Census Daventry had a population of 28,123, making ...

in the

County of Northampton Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is k ...

, a viscountcy being the customary retirement honour for Speakers. To date, she was the last peeress to be granted an hereditary peerage.

Edward Fitzroy Edward Algernon FitzRoy (24 July 1869 – 3 March 1943) was a British Conservative politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1928 until his death in 1943. Early life FitzRoy was the second son of the 3rd Baron Southampt ...

and Lady Daventry had four children: *

Robert Oliver Fitzroy, 2nd Viscount Daventry The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(born 10 January 1893, died 7 May 1976) * Hon Nancy Jean Fitzroy (born 31 May 1894, died Feb 1984) * Captain Michael Algernon Fitzroy (born 27 June 1895, killed in action 15 April 1915) * Commander Hon John Maurice FitzRoy Newdegate (born 20 March 1897, died 1976), father of

Francis FitzRoy Newdegate, 3rd Viscount Daventry Francis Humphrey Maurice FitzRoy Newdegate, 3rd Viscount Daventry (17 December 1921 – 15 February 2000), was a British peer who was High Sheriff of Warwickshire during 1970 and Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire from 1990 to 1997. Biography Lord Da ...

References

1869 births 1962 deaths Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Dames of Grace of the Order of St John Muriel Hereditary peeresses created by George VI {{UK-viscount-stub