Alexander Francis St Vincent Baring, 6th Baron Ashburton (7 April 1898 – 12 June 1991), was a British businessman and politician.

Early life

Baring was born on 7 April 1898. He was the only son of

Francis Baring, 5th Baron Ashburton Francis Denzil Edward Baring, 5th Baron Ashburton, (20 July 1866 – 27 March 1938), was a British peer and politician. Early life Baring was the son of Alexander Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton, a Member of Parliament for Thetford, and Leonora Ca ...

, and the former Claire Hortense. Through his father, he was a member of the German

Baring family The Baring family is a German and British family of merchants and bankers. In Germany, the family belongs to the '' Bildungsbürgertum'', and in England, it belongs to the aristocracy. History The family's earliest known ancestor is Peter Bari ...

and a descendant of American statesman

William Bingham William Bingham (March 8, 1752February 7, 1804) was an American statesman from Philadelphia. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801. Bingham was o ...

. He had four sisters, only one of whom married: Aurea Vera Baring, the wife of Maj. Charles Balfour (a grandson of

Mark McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim Captain Mark McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim DL ( Kerr; 3 April 1814 – 19 December 1869), was an Anglo-Irish peer of Irish and Scottish descent who served in the Royal Navy. Early life Born Mark Kerr on 3 April 1814, he was baptised on 21 April ...

). His maternal grandfather was French statesman Hugues-Bernard Maret, duc de Bassano, and his paternal grandparents were

Alexander Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton Alexander Hugh Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton, (4 May 1835 – 18 July 1889), was a British landowner and Conservative Party politician. Early life Baring was the son of Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton (1800–1868), and his wife Hortense E ...

, a Member of Parliament for

Thetford Thetford is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Breckland District of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road (England), A11 road between Norwich and London, just east of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, coverin ...

, and the Hon. Leonora Digby (a daughter of Edward Digby, 9th Baron Digby). He 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 depa ...

and the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC) was a United Kingdom, British military academy for training infantry and cavalry Officer (armed forces), officers of the British Army, British and British Indian Army, Indian Armies. It was founded in 1801 at Gre ...

Career

From 1917 to 1923, during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he saw active service as a Lieutenant with the

Royal Scots Greys The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the Army of Scotland that became a regiment of the British Army in 1707 upon the Union of Scotland and England, continuing until 1971 when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of ...

. After the war, he served as a Managing Director of the family bank,

Baring Brothers Barings Bank was a British merchant bank based in London. It was one of England's oldest merchant banks after Berenberg Bank, Barings' close collaborator and German representative. It was founded in 1762 by Francis Baring, a British-born member ...

, from 1928 to 1962. In the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served in the

Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), formerly the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), together with the Air Force Reserve, is a component of His Majesty's Reserve Air Forces (Reserve Forces Act 1996, Part 1, Para 1,(2),(c)). It provides a primary rei ...

as Flight lieutenant in 1939 and as

Group captain Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence. Group cap ...

from 1939 to 1944. After the War, he returned to his career as a bank director in the City of London before serving as chairman from 1962 to 1968. He also served as a director of

Alliance Assurance The Alliance Assurance was formed in 1824. It merged with Sun Insurance in 1959 to form Sun Alliance Insurance. History The Alliance was formed by Sir Moses Montefiore and Nathan Mayer Rothschild (married to sisters) with the intention of crea ...

(from 1932 to 1968), a member of the London Committee of the

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation HSBC Holdings plc ( zh, t_hk=滙豐; initialism from its founding member The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) is a British universal bank and financial services group headquartered in London, England, with historical and business li ...

(from 1935 to 1939), a director of Pressed Steel (from 1944 to 1966). Ashburton served as Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire from 1951 to 1973 (where he served as a member of

Hampshire County Council Hampshire County Council (HCC) is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire in England. The council was created in 1889. The county council provides county-level services to eleven of the thirteen districts geo ...

) and Vice Lieutenant of Hampshire from 1951 to 1960. From 1960 to 1973, he was Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Hampshire and the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...

. From 1961 to 1967, he was chairman of the Hampshire Police Authority and High Steward of

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

in 1967. He served as treasurer of the King Edward VII Hospital Fund for London from 1955 to 1964 and a trustee of the

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. George was born during the reign of his pa ...

Jubilee Trust from 1949 to 1968. From 1961 to 1973, he was

Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall ''Note: Some of these offices were continued from the Earldom of Cornwall.'' Offices Lord Steward and Lord Warden of the Stannaries in Cornwall and Devon *''See Lord Warden of the Stannaries'' Vice-Admiral of Cornwall *''See List of Vice-Admi ...

Personal life

On 17 November 1924, he was married to Doris Mary Thérèse Harcourt (1900–1981), the eldest daughter of

Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt Lewis Vernon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt (born Reginald Vernon Harcourt; 31 January 1863 – 24 February 1922), was a British Liberal Party politician who held the Cabinet post of Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1910 to 1915. Lor ...

, and the former Mary Ethel Burns (a niece of

J. Pierpont Morgan John Pierpont Morgan Sr. (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913) was an American financier and investment banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street throughout the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. As the head of the banking firm that ...

and granddaughter of

Junius Spencer Morgan Junius Spencer Morgan I (April 14, 1813 – April 8, 1890) was an American banker and financier, as well as the father of John Pierpont "J.P." Morgan and patriarch to the Morgan banking house. In 1864, he established J. S. Morgan & Co. in Lo ...

). Through her, the family acquired the famous 'Harcourt emeralds'. Together, they were the parents of two sons: * John Francis Harcourt Baring, 7th Baron Ashburton (1928–2020), who married Susan Mary Renwick, a daughter of

Robert Renwick, 1st Baron Renwick Robert Burnham Renwick, 1st Baron Renwick, KBE (4 October 1904 – 30 August 1973), known as Sir Robert Renwick, 2nd Baronet, from 1932 to 1964, was a British industrialist and public servant. Renwick was the only son of Sir Harry Renwick, 1st ...

. They divorced in 1984, and he remarried to Sarah Cornelia Spencer-Churchill, a daughter of John Spencer-Churchill and a grandniece of Prime Minister

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

. * Robin Alexander Baring (born 1931), who married Anne Caroline Thalia Gage (born 1931), eldest daughter of the

High Sheriff of Shropshire This is a list of sheriffs and high sheriffs of Shropshire The high sheriff, sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the high sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of t ...

, Major Edward F. P. Gage of Chateau de Combecave, in 1960. Ashburton and his family lived in Hampshire, where he was active in public life and later as

Lord Lieutenant A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility ov ...

of the county. Ashburton died in 1991, leaving two sons. The barony passed to his elder son,

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

. Since his death, his

Garter A garter is an article of clothing comprising a narrow band of fabric fastened about the leg to keep up stockings. In the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, they were tied just below the knee, where the leg is most slender, to keep the stocking f ...

banner has been on display at

Winchester Cathedral The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,Historic England. "Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity (1095509)". ''National Heritage List for England''. Retrieved 8 September 2014. Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun, commonly known as Winches ...

Arms

Awards and decorations

* Knight of Justice of the

Venerable Order of Saint John The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (), commonly known as the Order of St John, and also known as St John International, is an order of chivalry constituted in 1888 by royal charter from Queen Victoria and dedica ...

(1960) *

of Hampshire (1960 to 1973) * Knight Commander of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order () is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, members of the royal family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the m ...

(

1961 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1961 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate ...

) * Knight Companion of the

Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. The most senior order of knighthood in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system, it is outranked in ...

(1969)

Sources

External links

Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)

Alexander Francis St Vincent Baring, 6th Baron Ashburton
at the

National Portrait Gallery, London The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world th ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashburton, Alexander Baring, 6th Baron 1898 births 1991 deaths People educated at Eton College Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Royal Scots Greys officers British Army personnel of World War I Knights of the Garter Knights of the Order of St John Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Lord-lieutenants of Hampshire Deputy lieutenants of Hampshire Royal Air Force personnel of World War II

Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...

British people of American descent British people of French descent British people of German descent 6