Alexander Macmillan, 2nd Earl of Stockton
Encyclopedia
Alexander Daniel Alan Macmillan, 2nd Earl of Stockton (born 10 October 1943) is a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
. He is the first son of the late Conservative politician Maurice Macmillan and the first grandson of former prime minister Harold Macmillan
.
, the University of Paris
, and at Strathclyde University.
He was a member of the European Parliament
for South West England
from 1999 to 2004.
Stockton was one of the hereditary peers to have been excluded from the House of Lords
. He inherited his peerage from his grandfather, Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton
, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
from 1957 to 1963, on his death at the end of 1986, as his father had died more than two years previously. He has several times been an unsuccessful candidate in the by-elections held among hereditary peers for a seat in the House of Lords: in 2007 he came third in a contest to replace Lord Mowbray
, coming third behind the winner, Lord Cathcart
, and Lord Younger of Leckie
; in the 2010 by-election to replace Lord Northesk
, he came second behind Lord Younger of Leckie
; and in 2011 he lost to Lord Hanworth
in a ballot for the seat of the deceased Lord Strabolgi.
At the May 2011 local council elections, Lord Stockton was elected as a Conservative councillor on South Bucks
district council.
Both his father Maurice Macmillan (1921–1984) and his grandfather preceded him as Chairman of Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
, the publishing house long owned by the family. Stockton sold it to the German Holtzbrinck group
. He ranked 253rd in the Sunday Times 2004 Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £165m.
Lord Stockton renovated Hayne Manor with his current wife Miranda, in Devon
, and listed it for sale.
One of his more recent public appearances came on 29 April 2002, when he appeared alongside several other relatives of deceased former Prime Ministers, as well as the then Prime Minister Tony Blair
and the four surviving former Prime Ministers, for a dinner at Buckingham Palace
which formed part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is the first son of the late Conservative politician Maurice Macmillan and the first grandson of former prime minister Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
.
Life
Lord Stockton was educated at Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, and at Strathclyde University.
He was a member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
for South West England
South West England (European Parliament constituency)
South West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation, reduced from 7 in 2004.-Boundaries:...
from 1999 to 2004.
Stockton was one of the hereditary peers to have been excluded from the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He inherited his peerage from his grandfather, Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
from 1957 to 1963, on his death at the end of 1986, as his father had died more than two years previously. He has several times been an unsuccessful candidate in the by-elections held among hereditary peers for a seat in the House of Lords: in 2007 he came third in a contest to replace Lord Mowbray
Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray
Charles Edward Stourton, 23rd Baron Stourton, 27th Baron Segrave, 26th Baron Mowbray CBE was a baron in the peerage of England. From 1965 to 1983, he was premier baron in the English peerage. He sat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords, and was a Conservative whip in government and...
, coming third behind the winner, Lord Cathcart
Charles Cathcart, 7th Earl Cathcart
Charles Alan Andrew Cathcart, the 7th Earl Cathcart is a British peer and member of the House of Lords and Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Cathcart....
, and Lord Younger of Leckie
James Younger, 5th Viscount Younger of Leckie
James Younger, 5th Viscount Younger of Leckie is an elected hereditary peer who sits on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords....
; in the 2010 by-election to replace Lord Northesk
David Carnegie, 14th Earl of Northesk
David John MacRae Carnegie, 14th Earl of Northesk was a British hereditary peer, landowner and member of the House of Lords.David Carnegie was the son of Robert, the 13th Earl , and Jean Margaret MacRae...
, he came second behind Lord Younger of Leckie
James Younger, 5th Viscount Younger of Leckie
James Younger, 5th Viscount Younger of Leckie is an elected hereditary peer who sits on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords....
; and in 2011 he lost to Lord Hanworth
David Pollock, 3rd Viscount Hanworth
David Stephen Geoffrey Pollock, 3rd Viscount Hanworth is a British hereditary peer, academic and elected Labour member of the House of Lords....
in a ballot for the seat of the deceased Lord Strabolgi.
At the May 2011 local council elections, Lord Stockton was elected as a Conservative councillor on South Bucks
South Bucks
South Bucks is one of four local government districts in the non-metropolitan county of Buckinghamshire, in South East England.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, by the amalgamation of the area of Beaconsfield Urban District with part of Eton Rural District...
district council.
Both his father Maurice Macmillan (1921–1984) and his grandfather preceded him as Chairman of Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
, the publishing house long owned by the family. Stockton sold it to the German Holtzbrinck group
Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group
Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck is a Stuttgart-based publishing holding company which owns publishing companies worldwide. Holtzbrinck has published everything from Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses to classics by Agatha Christie, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway and John Updike...
. He ranked 253rd in the Sunday Times 2004 Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £165m.
Lord Stockton renovated Hayne Manor with his current wife Miranda, in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and listed it for sale.
One of his more recent public appearances came on 29 April 2002, when he appeared alongside several other relatives of deceased former Prime Ministers, as well as the then Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and the four surviving former Prime Ministers, for a dinner at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
which formed part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Marriages
- Hélène Birgitte HamiltonBirgitte Macmillan, Countess of StocktonHélène Birgitte Hamilton, now known as Birgitte, Countess of Stockton, was the first wife of Alexander Macmillan, 2nd Earl of Stockton...
, 1970, divorced 1991. There were three children of this marriage:- Daniel Maurice Alan Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of OvendenDaniel Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of OvendenDaniel Maurice Alan Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden is the heir to Alexander Macmillan, 2nd Earl of Stockton.Lord Macmillan is a great-grandson of the former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton. He was 12 years old when his great-grandfather died, and he holds a courtesy...
(b. 9 October 1974) - Lady Rebecca Elizabeth Macmillan (b. 1980)
- Lady Louisa Alexandra Macmillan (b. 1982)
- Daniel Maurice Alan Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden
- Miranda QuarryMiranda Macmillan, Countess of StocktonMiranda Macmillan, Countess of Stockton is an Australian former fashion model, married to the 2nd Earl of Stockton. She is now styled as the The Countess of Stockton....
(the third wife of Peter SellersPeter SellersRichard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
), 23 December 1995. This union produced no children.