Osbert Cecil Molyneux, 6th Earl of Sefton, (21 February 1871 – 16 June 1930), styled The Honourable Osbert Molyneux until 1901, was a British courtier and Liberal politician. He served as

Master of the Horse Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today. (ancient Rome) The original Master of the Horse () in the Roman Rep ...

under

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (né Campbell; 7 September 183622 April 1908) was a British statesman and Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Liberal Party (UK)#Liberal le ...

from 1905 to 1907.

Background

Molyneux was the second son of William Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton, by his wife the Honourable Cecil Emily Jolliffe (1838–1899), fifth daughter of William Jolliffe, 1st Baron Hylton. He was commissioned a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in the 2nd Life Guards. Resigning from the regular army, he was appointed a supernumerary

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in the Lancashire Hussars

Imperial Yeomanry The Imperial Yeomanry was a volunteer mounted force of the British Army that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Created on 2 January 1900, the force was initially recruited from the middle classes and traditional yeomanry sources, but s ...

on 4 June 1902. Molyneux was an active hare courser, chairing the draw for the Waterloo Cup.

Political career

Lord Sefton succeeded to the earldom in December 1901 on the early death of his elder brother, and took his seat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

. In April 1902, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

. When the Liberals came to power under

in December 1905, Sefton was appointed

and sworn of the Privy Council in January 1906. He continued as Master of the Horse until September 1907. In 1926 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross 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 ...

Family

Lord Sefton married Lady Helena Mary Bridgeman, daughter of George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford, on 8 January 1898. They had three children: * Hugh William Osbert Molyneux, 7th Earl of Sefton (1898–1972). *Midshipman Hon. Cecil Richard Molyneux (1899–1916), killed in action aboard at the

Battle of Jutland The Battle of Jutland () was a naval battle between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet, under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer, durin ...

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 ...

. *Lady Evelyn Molyneux (1902–1917), died young. Lady Helena Sefton was a favourite aunt of

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (born Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott; 25 December 1901 – 29 October 2004) was a member of the British royal family. She was the wife of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King ...

. The wife of

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 ...

's son

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (Henry William Frederick Albert; 31 March 1900 – 10 June 1974) was a member of the British royal family. He was the third son of King George V and Mary of Teck, Queen Mary, and was a younger brother of kings E ...

wrote of her aunt Helena: "Long before the First War, she shocked her relations by wearing trousers and going off big-game shooting with a boyfriend--needless to say, it was the trousers that caused the worst scandal. In the last War, she drove lorries, though by then she was well over seventy. She was terrifically given to good works and a very religious person. I was very impressed when she once took me down to the canteen in the docks where she often helped cook breakfast for the merchant seamen who had come in the night before or at break of dawn." Lord Sefton died in June 1930, aged 59, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest and only surviving son, Hugh.

References

1871 births 1930 deaths Deputy lieutenants of Lancashire Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Lancashire Hussars officers British Life Guards officers Earls of Sefton {{Ireland-earl-stub