Geoffrey Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Denis Erskine Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill, CBE
, PC
(15 October 1921-23 April 2011) was a British
hereditary peer
and businessman, whose paternity and succession to the peerage were famously disputed in the "Ampthill Baby Case
".
His father, John Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill
had petitioned to disclaim paternity whilst divorcing Russell's mother, Christabel Hulme Hart, in 1923, claiming non-consummation
. The petition was rejected on appeal and Russell's mother was granted a declaration that he was legitimate.
Educated at Stowe School
, Russell served in the Irish Guards
during the Second World War, being commissioned as a Captain in 1941. He served with the Guards Armoured Division in France in 1944, where he was wounded, and in Norway in 1945.
Russell was general manager of Fortnum & Mason
from 1947 until resigning in 1951, then chairman of the New Providence Hotel until 1965. He made a career in theatrical management as owner/managing director of Linnet & Dunfee (which produced the original production of the musical hit Salad Days) from 1953 until 1981. He was afterwards a director of United Newspapers
and Express Newspapers
. He was also Chairman of London's Helicopter Emergency Service.
Russell succeeded as Baron Ampthill
in 1973, upon the death of his father. His succession was unsuccessfully contested by his half-brother the Hon. John Hugo Trenchard Russell, eldest son of the 3rd Baron's third marriage. Committee for Privileges ruled in favour of Geoffrey in 1976.
In the House of Lords
, Ampthill sat as a crossbencher. He was a deputy speaker from 1983 and Chairman of Committees
from 1992-4. He was awarded the CBE in 1986—following in the footsteps of his father who was also awarded the CBE—and made a Privy Counsellor in 1995. Following the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999
which removed the majority of hereditary peers from the House, Ampthill was one of the ninety hereditaries elected to continue to sit. He was one of fifteen peers elected by the whole house to be available to serve as deputy speakers and office holders.
In 1946, Ampthill married Susan Winn, whom he divorced in 1971; they had three sons and a daughter. He then married Elisabeth Mallon in 1972, divorcing her in 1987. He was succeeded in the title by his second, but eldest surviving, son David Russell.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, PC
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
(15 October 1921-23 April 2011) was a British
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...
hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
and businessman, whose paternity and succession to the peerage were famously disputed in the "Ampthill Baby Case
Russell case
The Russell case, also called the Ampthill baby case, was a series of proceedings related to the conception of Geoffrey Russell. It covered two divorce cases and the claim to the British peerage title Baron Ampthill, and the possibility of a virgin birth....
".
His father, John Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill
John Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill
Captain John Hugo Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill CBE was a British peer who served in the Royal Navy in both the First and Second World Wars.He was the son of Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill...
had petitioned to disclaim paternity whilst divorcing Russell's mother, Christabel Hulme Hart, in 1923, claiming non-consummation
Consummation
Consummation is the initial sexual act made within a marriage.Consummation can also refer to:* Consummation , 1970 recordingSee also:* Consummation of days, event predicted in Daniel Chapter 12, verses 1-4...
. The petition was rejected on appeal and Russell's mother was granted a declaration that he was legitimate.
Educated at Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
, Russell served in the Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
during the Second World War, being commissioned as a Captain in 1941. He served with the Guards Armoured Division in France in 1944, where he was wounded, and in Norway in 1945.
Russell was general manager of Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just "Fortnum's" is a department store, situated in central London, with two other branches in Japan. Its headquarters is located at 181 Piccadilly, where it was established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason...
from 1947 until resigning in 1951, then chairman of the New Providence Hotel until 1965. He made a career in theatrical management as owner/managing director of Linnet & Dunfee (which produced the original production of the musical hit Salad Days) from 1953 until 1981. He was afterwards a director of United Newspapers
United Business Media
UBM plc is a magazine publisher, news distributor and events organiser providing business information services principally to the technology, healthcare, media, automotive and financial services industries...
and Express Newspapers
Express Newspapers
Northern & Shell is a British publishing and television group. The holding company name is "Northern and Shell Network Ltd". Launched and founded in December 1974 and currently owned by Richard Desmond, it publishes the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday, and the...
. He was also Chairman of London's Helicopter Emergency Service.
Russell succeeded as Baron Ampthill
Baron Ampthill
Baron Ampthill, of Ampthill in the County of Bedford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 March 1881 for the diplomat Lord Odo Russell. He was the third son of Major-General Lord George Russell, second son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford...
in 1973, upon the death of his father. His succession was unsuccessfully contested by his half-brother the Hon. John Hugo Trenchard Russell, eldest son of the 3rd Baron's third marriage. Committee for Privileges ruled in favour of Geoffrey in 1976.
In 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....
, Ampthill sat as a crossbencher. He was a deputy speaker from 1983 and Chairman of Committees
Chairman of Committees
The Chairman of Committees is an officer of the House of Lords who presides over the House when it is in committee both in the Lords Chamber and in Grand Committee, which is when committee stage is taken away from the floor to free up debating time in the main Chamber...
from 1992-4. He was awarded the CBE in 1986—following in the footsteps of his father who was also awarded the CBE—and made a Privy Counsellor in 1995. Following the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
which removed the majority of hereditary peers from the House, Ampthill was one of the ninety hereditaries elected to continue to sit. He was one of fifteen peers elected by the whole house to be available to serve as deputy speakers and office holders.
In 1946, Ampthill married Susan Winn, whom he divorced in 1971; they had three sons and a daughter. He then married Elisabeth Mallon in 1972, divorcing her in 1987. He was succeeded in the title by his second, but eldest surviving, son David Russell.