John Ruggles-Brise
Encyclopedia
Colonel Sir John Archibald Ruggles-Brise, 2nd Baronet, CB
, OBE
, TD
(13 June 1908 - 20 February 2007) was Lord Lieutenant of Essex
from 1958 to 1978, and was the first Pro-Chancellor of Essex University from 1964 to 1979. He was also a president of the Country Landowners' Association (now the Country Land and Business Association) from 1957 to 1959, and was a co-founder of the CLA's annual Game Fair in 1958.
Ruggles-Brise was born at Brent Hall in Finchingfield
in Essex
. His family have deep roots in Essex, having been based at Spains Hall
in Finchingfield since the house was bought by Samuel Ruggles, a clothier, in 1760. His father, Sir Edward Ruggles-Brise, 1st Baronet, was MP
for Maldon
from 1922 to his death in 1942 (with a short intermission in 1923-4), and became a baronet
in George V
's Silver Jubilee
honours list in 1935.
Ruggles-Brise was educated at Wellesley House and then Eton
, where he became captain of his house, and then worked on a family farm in Alberta
in Canada
. He worked at Employers Liability Assurance, rising to manage its branches in the City of London
and the West End of London
.
He joined the Territorial Army in 1938 (his father commanded the 104th Essex Yeomanry Field Brigade R.A.). When the Second World War broke out, he enlisted as a gunner in the 54th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He was commissioned, and commanded a Royal Artillery
anti-aircraft battery near London
during the Blitz. He inherited the baronetcy on his father's death in 1942. The same year, he took command of the 180th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1942, based in Scotland. He took his unit to join the air defences of Plymouth before D-Day
in 1944. He received a military OBE. He continued to serve with the Territorial Army after the war, being awarded the Territorial Decoration
and the rank of honorary colonel.
He continued to work in insurance for a short period after the War, but then returned to managed the neglected family estates in Essex, which he had inherited in 1942. He was president of the Country Landowners' Association from 1957 to 1959, and was a co-founder of the CLA's annual Game Fair in 1958.
He was Deputy Lieutenant of Essex from 1945, Vice-Lieutenant from 1945, and then Lord Lieutenant of Essex
from 1958 to 1978. He became a Companion of the Order of the Bath
in 1958, and served as a Church Commissioner from 1959 to 1964, and as chairman of the Council of the Baronetage from 1958 to 1963. He was also a Knight of the Order of St John, and played a leading role in the foundation of Essex University at Wivenhoe Park
in 1961. He was the university's first Pro-Chancellor from 1964 to 1979. He was a governor of Felsted School
and Chigwell School
from 1950 to 1975.
He never married. He was succeeded by his nephew, Sir Timothy Edward Ruggles-Brise, 3rd Baronet.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, OBE
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...
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(13 June 1908 - 20 February 2007) was Lord Lieutenant of Essex
Lord Lieutenant of Essex
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Essex. Since 1688, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Essex.*John Petre, 1st Baron Petre*John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford 1558–?...
from 1958 to 1978, and was the first Pro-Chancellor of Essex University from 1964 to 1979. He was also a president of the Country Landowners' Association (now the Country Land and Business Association) from 1957 to 1959, and was a co-founder of the CLA's annual Game Fair in 1958.
Ruggles-Brise was born at Brent Hall in Finchingfield
Finchingfield
Finchingfield is a village situated in the Braintree district of Essex. It is in the north-west of the county, which is a primarily rural area...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. His family have deep roots in Essex, having been based at Spains Hall
Spains Hall
Spains Hall is an Elizabethan country house near Finchingfield in Essex.The hall is named after Hervey de Ispania, who held the manor at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086...
in Finchingfield since the house was bought by Samuel Ruggles, a clothier, in 1760. His father, Sir Edward Ruggles-Brise, 1st Baronet, was MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Maldon
Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)
Maldon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
from 1922 to his death in 1942 (with a short intermission in 1923-4), and became a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
's Silver Jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
honours list in 1935.
Ruggles-Brise was educated at Wellesley House and then Eton
Eton 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"....
, where he became captain of his house, and then worked on a family farm in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He worked at Employers Liability Assurance, rising to manage its branches in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and the West End of London
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
.
He joined the Territorial Army in 1938 (his father commanded the 104th Essex Yeomanry Field Brigade R.A.). When the Second World War broke out, he enlisted as a gunner in the 54th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He was commissioned, and commanded a Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
anti-aircraft battery near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the Blitz. He inherited the baronetcy on his father's death in 1942. The same year, he took command of the 180th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1942, based in Scotland. He took his unit to join the air defences of Plymouth before D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
in 1944. He received a military OBE. He continued to serve with the Territorial Army after the war, being awarded the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
and the rank of honorary colonel.
He continued to work in insurance for a short period after the War, but then returned to managed the neglected family estates in Essex, which he had inherited in 1942. He was president of the Country Landowners' Association from 1957 to 1959, and was a co-founder of the CLA's annual Game Fair in 1958.
He was Deputy Lieutenant of Essex from 1945, Vice-Lieutenant from 1945, and then Lord Lieutenant of Essex
Lord Lieutenant of Essex
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Essex. Since 1688, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Essex.*John Petre, 1st Baron Petre*John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford 1558–?...
from 1958 to 1978. He became a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1958, and served as a Church Commissioner from 1959 to 1964, and as chairman of the Council of the Baronetage from 1958 to 1963. He was also a Knight of the Order of St John, and played a leading role in the foundation of Essex University at Wivenhoe Park
Wivenhoe Park
Wivenhoe Park, located on the Eastern edge of Colchester is a multi-acre landscaped green space.Until the 1960s its main claim to fame was that it was the setting for one of Constable's landscape paintings. From the 1960s onwards, however, it has been home to the University of Essex. The park is...
in 1961. He was the university's first Pro-Chancellor from 1964 to 1979. He was a governor of Felsted School
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
and Chigwell School
Chigwell School
Chigwell School is an English co-educational independent school/public school in Chigwell, in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It was founded in 1629 by Samuel Harsnett, a former Archbishop of York . There are around 730 pupils aged between 7 and 18 years...
from 1950 to 1975.
He never married. He was succeeded by his nephew, Sir Timothy Edward Ruggles-Brise, 3rd Baronet.