Peregrine Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow
Encyclopedia
Peregrine Francis Adelbert Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow (27 April 1899 - 28 July 1978), was a British
peer. He was the son of Adelbert Salusbury Cockayne Cust, 5th Baron Brownlow, and his wife Maud Buckle.
, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, later being commissioned into the Grenadier Guards
.
He fought in the First World War and left the Army with the rank of Lieutenant
.
from 1934-35. Brownlow also served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire
from 1936 to 1950.
During the 1930s Brownlow was a close friend and equerry to the Prince of Wales
, and later Lord-in-waiting
when he became King Edward VIII
. The Prince and his future wife Mrs Wallis Simpson spent many weekends at Brownlow's country house
, Belton House
. Upon the prince's accession to the throne, Lord Brownlow became heavily involved in the abdication crisis which followed the new King's intention to marry Mrs Simpson. Brownlow personally accompanied Mrs Simpson on her flight to France to escape the media attention, and encouraged Mrs Simpson to renounce the idea of marriage to the King. Returning to England, Brownlow attempted to enlist the support of the King's mother Queen Mary
, but she refused to receive him. Brownlow's career as a courtier was coming to a close.
Following the abdication, Lord Brownlow attempted to extricate himself from the former King's circle, refusing to attend the Duke of Windsor's marriage ceremony in 1937. For this Edward and his wife, now the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, regarded Brownlow as disloyal. The Duchess in particular never forgave the man who had once championed her.
Administrative and Special Duties Branch.
He was briefly involved in national politics when he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Minister of Aircraft Production
Lord Beaverbrook
from 1940 to 1941.
He was promoted to Flying Officer
in 1941 and Flight Lieutenant
in 1943 and resigned his commission in March 1944 as Acting Squadron Leader
.
, Brownlow was horrified to read without prior warning in the Court Circular
, that he had been replaced as the Sovereign's Lord-in-Waiting. Phoning Buckingham Palace
for an explanation, he was given the curt information that his resignation had been accepted - but he had never tendered it. It was also made clear to him that the new King
and his consort
, Queen Elizabeth
, had ordered that Brownlow's name was never to appear in the "Court Circular" again. Today, The National Trust
are now the owners of Belton House.
(d.1968) and daughter of Major Philip Guy Reynolds,D.S.O., in 1969. He died in July 1978, aged 79, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son Edward John Peregrine Cust.
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...
peer. He was the son of Adelbert Salusbury Cockayne Cust, 5th Baron Brownlow, and his wife Maud Buckle.
Education and World War I service
He was educated at EtonEton 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"....
, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, later being commissioned into the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
.
He fought in the First World War and left the Army with the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
Inter-war years
He was Mayor of GranthamGrantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
from 1934-35. Brownlow also served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire
Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. Since 1660, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Lincolnshire.*Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln 1550/1552–?*Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland 1551–1563?...
from 1936 to 1950.
During the 1930s Brownlow was a close friend and equerry to the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, and later Lord-in-waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
when he became King Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
. The Prince and his future wife Mrs Wallis Simpson spent many weekends at Brownlow's country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
, Belton House
Belton House
Belton House is a Grade I listed country house in Belton near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. The mansion is surrounded by formal gardens and a series of avenues leading to follies within a larger wooded park...
. Upon the prince's accession to the throne, Lord Brownlow became heavily involved in the abdication crisis which followed the new King's intention to marry Mrs Simpson. Brownlow personally accompanied Mrs Simpson on her flight to France to escape the media attention, and encouraged Mrs Simpson to renounce the idea of marriage to the King. Returning to England, Brownlow attempted to enlist the support of the King's mother Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
, but she refused to receive him. Brownlow's career as a courtier was coming to a close.
Following the abdication, Lord Brownlow attempted to extricate himself from the former King's circle, refusing to attend the Duke of Windsor's marriage ceremony in 1937. For this Edward and his wife, now the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, regarded Brownlow as disloyal. The Duchess in particular never forgave the man who had once championed her.
World War II service
In 1939 he was commissioned into the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Administrative and Special Duties Branch.
He was briefly involved in national politics when he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Minister of Aircraft Production
Minister of Aircraft Production
The Minister of Aircraft Production was the British government position in charge of the Ministry of Aircraft Production, one of the specialised supply ministries set up by the British Government during World War II...
Lord Beaverbrook
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Bt, PC, was a Canadian-British business tycoon, politician, and writer.-Early career in Canada:...
from 1940 to 1941.
He was promoted to Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in 1941 and Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in 1943 and resigned his commission in March 1944 as Acting Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
Post war
Lacking the Duchess of Windsor's forgiveness following the abdication was one thing; following the accession of the new monarch, King George VIGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, Brownlow was horrified to read without prior warning in the Court Circular
Court Circular
The Court Circular is the official record that lists the engagements carried out by the Monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other Commonwealth Realms; the Royal Family; and appointments to their staff and to the court. It is issued by Buckingham Palace and printed a day in arrears at the back...
, that he had been replaced as the Sovereign's Lord-in-Waiting. Phoning 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...
for an explanation, he was given the curt information that his resignation had been accepted - but he had never tendered it. It was also made clear to him that the new King
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
and his consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
, Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, had ordered that Brownlow's name was never to appear in the "Court Circular" again. Today, The National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
are now the owners of Belton House.
Personal life
Lord Brownlow married three times. He married firstly Katherine, daughter of Brigadier General Sir David Alexander Kinloch, 11th Baronet, in 1927. They had three children. After his first wife's death in 1952 he married secondly Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Sarsfield Kent Power, in 1954. She died in 1966 and Brownlow married thirdly Leila Joan, Lady Manton, widow of George Miles Watson, 2nd Baron MantonGeorge Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton
George Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton .Miles Watson was born near Leeds, Yorks., on June 21, 1899, the eldest of 4 sons of Joseph Watson, 1st Baron Manton, the Leeds soap magnate, and Claire Nickols, da. of Harold Nickols of Sandford House, Kirkstall, Leeds...
(d.1968) and daughter of Major Philip Guy Reynolds,D.S.O., in 1969. He died in July 1978, aged 79, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son Edward John Peregrine Cust.
External links
See also
- William Denis Kendall mid-20th century MP for Grantahm and subject of MI5MI5The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
surveillance.