Sir Nicholas Bacon, 14th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Nicholas Hickman Ponsonby Bacon, 14th and 15th Baronet, OBE
DL
(born 17 May 1953), is a British
landowner, businessman and philanthropist. Sir Nicholas is also the Premier Baronet of England.
and Priscilla Dora Ponsonby, daughter of Colonel Sir Charles Ponsonby, 1st Baronet
. He was educated at Eton College
. Sir Nicholas served as Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II
from 1966 to 1969, and then studied at Dundee University where he obtained a MA
degree. At Gray's Inn
he was called to the Bar as a barrister.
Sir Nicholas inherited significant landholdings in Norfolk
.
He lives at the 18th century Raveningham Hall. He and his wife, Lady Bacon, share an interest in continuing the restoration of the extensive gardens, which were renovated by his late mother, Priscilla.
Sir Nicholas and his wife have continued his mother’s work by developing a new herb garden, refurbishing the walled garden’s Victorian conservatory, planting an arboretum and introducing contemporary sculpture.
and the RHS and in 1998 was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
of Norfolk.
In 2005 he was appointed to the Prince's Council of the Duchy of Cornwall
and served as High Sheriff of Norfolk
. In 2006 he succeeded William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel
as Lord Warden of the Stannaries
and Chairman of the Prince's Council
He is also President of the Norfolk Beekeepers Association, which is his greatest passion.
Sir Nicholas was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to the community in Norfolk.
As the Bacon Baronetcy
, of Redgrave in the County of Suffolk, is the oldest extant English baronetcy (created in the Baronetage of England on 22 May 1611), Sir Nicholas is considered the Premier Baronet of England.
Sir Nicholas is both the 14th and 15th Baronet of Bacon since the 8th Bacon Baronet of Mildenhall in the County of Suffolk (created in the Baronetage of England on 29 July 1627), had been additionally appointed the 7th Bacon Baronet of Redgrave in 1755 when his third cousin, the 6th Bacon Baronet of Redgrave, died without heirs.
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...
DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(born 17 May 1953), is 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...
landowner, businessman and philanthropist. Sir Nicholas is also the Premier Baronet of England.
Life and education
Sir Nicholas is the son of Sir Edmund Bacon, 13th and 14th BaronetEdmund Castell Bacon
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edmund Castell Bacon, 13th and 14th Baronet KG KBE was a British landowner and businessman...
and Priscilla Dora Ponsonby, daughter of Colonel Sir Charles Ponsonby, 1st Baronet
Sir Charles Ponsonby, 1st Baronet
Sir Charles Edward Ponsonby, 1st Baronet , was a British Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1935 to 1950....
. He was educated at Eton College
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"....
. Sir Nicholas served as Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
from 1966 to 1969, and then studied at Dundee University where he obtained a MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
degree. At Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
he was called to the Bar as a barrister.
Family
In 1981, Sir Nicholas married Susan Henrietta Dinnis, and they have four sons:- Henry Hickman Kevin Bacon (b. 23 April 1984)
- Edmund Bacon1 (b. 1986)
- Nathaniel Bacon1 (b. 1989)
- Thomas Castell Pete Bacon (b. 1992)
Sir Nicholas inherited significant landholdings in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
He lives at the 18th century Raveningham Hall. He and his wife, Lady Bacon, share an interest in continuing the restoration of the extensive gardens, which were renovated by his late mother, Priscilla.
Sir Nicholas and his wife have continued his mother’s work by developing a new herb garden, refurbishing the walled garden’s Victorian conservatory, planting an arboretum and introducing contemporary sculpture.
Appointments
Sir Nicholas is a council member of the National TrustNational 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...
and the RHS and in 1998 was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Norfolk.
In 2005 he was appointed to the Prince's Council of the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
and served as High Sheriff of Norfolk
High Sheriff of Norfolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
. In 2006 he succeeded William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel
William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel
William James Robert Peel, 3rd Earl Peel GCVO, PC, DL , styled Viscount Clanfield until 1969, is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords and Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household.-Background and education:...
as Lord Warden of the Stannaries
Lord Warden of the Stannaries
The Lord Warden of the Stannaries used to exercise judicial and military functions in Cornwall, United Kingdom, and is still the official who, upon the commission of the monarch or Duke of Cornwall for the time being, has the function of calling a Stannary Parliament of tinners...
and Chairman of the Prince's Council
He is also President of the Norfolk Beekeepers Association, which is his greatest passion.
Sir Nicholas was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to the community in Norfolk.
Baronetcy
Sir Nicholas inherited the Bacon Baronetcy after the death of his father in 1982.As the Bacon Baronetcy
Bacon Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Bacon family, all in the Baronetage of England. As of 2008, one creation is extinct and two of the creations are extant. The extant titles have been merged since 1755...
, of Redgrave in the County of Suffolk, is the oldest extant English baronetcy (created in the Baronetage of England on 22 May 1611), Sir Nicholas is considered the Premier Baronet of England.
Sir Nicholas is both the 14th and 15th Baronet of Bacon since the 8th Bacon Baronet of Mildenhall in the County of Suffolk (created in the Baronetage of England on 29 July 1627), had been additionally appointed the 7th Bacon Baronet of Redgrave in 1755 when his third cousin, the 6th Bacon Baronet of Redgrave, died without heirs.