David Bowes-Lyon KCVO (1902 - 1961)

Born 2 May 1902 in Westminster, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Rachel Pauline (Spender-Clay) Bowes-Lyon — married 6 Feb 1929 (to 13 Sep 1961) in England

Descendants

Died 13 Sep 1961 at age 59 in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

David Bowes-Lyon was born on 2 May 1902, the youngest child of Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and Cecilia Nina Cavendish-Bentinck, and the younger brother of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who would marry the future King George IV. He was baptised on 10 June 1902 at the church of St John the Evangelist, Smith Square, Westminster: ^[1]
1902 10 June, Born 2nd May - David, son of Claude George & Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (Lord Glamis), residence: St Paul's Walden Welwyn, Herts, father's occupation: Peer's son

He married Rachel Pauline Spender Clay, daughter of Lt.-Col. the Right Honourable Herbert Henry Spender Clay and the Honourable Pauline Astor, on 6 February 1929. and they had two children:

1. Davina Katherine Bowes-Lyon (b. 2 May 1930), married John Dalrymple, 13th Earl of Stair
2. Simon Alexander Bowes-Lyon (b. 17 June 1932)

During World War II, Bowes-Lyon was a member of the secret propaganda department Political Warfare Executive. He was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1950 and Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire from 1 July 1952 until his death. Also, he became President of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1953. In 1960, he commanded the third World Orchid Conference. He was also a baptismal sponsor to Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

He died on 13 September 1961 at age 59 at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the Balmoral estate, of a heart attack after suffering a hemiplegic stroke. The Queen Mother (his older sister) discovered him dead in bed. David was buried at the parish church of St Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire, the parish in which St Paul's Walden Bury, the Bowes-Lyon mansion is situated. His will was proved on 17 January 1962 at the Principal Probate Registry in London. His estate was valued at over £238,000. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Westminster, London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1919"
   City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: SJSS/PR/1/16
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61866 #111187 (accessed 22 May 2023)
   David Bowes-Lyon baptism on 10 Jun 1902 (born 2 May 1902), child of Claud George Bowes-Lyon & Cecelia Nina Bowes-Lyon, in St John the Evangelist, Smith Square, London, Westminster, England.
2. ↑ Probate: "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995"
   Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1904 #14726264 (accessed 22 May 2023)
   The Honorable Sir David Bowes Lyon probate on 17 Jan 1962 in London, England. Died 13 Sep 1961 at Birkhall Ballater, Aberdeenshire.

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