Edward Curzon, 6th Earl Howe

Early life and background

Curzon was born in St George Hanover Square, London, the eldest son of Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe and his wife, Mary Curzon. He was educated at Eton College, and graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Naval career

Curzon joined the London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a probationary midshipman on 18 September 1928, and was appointed an acting sub-lieutenant on 21 July 1931, receiving promotion to sub-lieutenant on 7 November 1932, with seniority from 21 July 1932. He left the RNVR in 1936 or 1937, but returned to RNVR service after the outbreak on the Second World War, being appointed a probationary temporary sub-lieutenant on 23 February 1940. He was promoted to lieutenant on 20 May 1940, and served aboard the cruiser HMS Cairo from June 1940 to December 1941, then the battleship HMS Howe (named after his illustrious ancestor the first Earl Howe) from May 1942 to July 1945, serving in the rank of acting temporary lieutenant commander from December 1943 until April 1944. He left the navy in April 1946.

Political career

Curzon had an active career in public service. He was first elected Member of the London County Council for South Battersea in 1937, serving until 1946. In November 1940 he was appointed a Sheriff for Buckinghamshire in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice.

His career continued post-war. Curzon was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1946, and was elected as an alderman of Buckinghamshire in 1958, and was a county councillor from 1973, serving as Vice Chairman of Buckinghamshire County Council from 1976. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Buckinghamshire on 1 February 1960, and was again appointed a Sheriff for Buckinghamshire in November 1963.

Curzon succeeded to the title of Earl Howe on 1 September 1964, taking his seat in the House of Lords, and making his maiden speech on 13 December 1965, during a debate on transport issues in Greater London. He was a campaigner for road safety — which did not prevent him from suggesting that the speed limit on motorways should be raised from 70 to 100 mph.

He also served as the President of the South Buckinghamshire Conservative and Unionist Association from 1965 to 1972, then President of the Chesham and Amersham Conservative Association. In addition he served as Commissioner for the St John Ambulance Brigade for Buckinghamshire, 1953–1955, was a Trustee of the King William IV Naval Asylum in Penge. He also served as President of the British Automobile Racing Club, the Institute of Road Safety Officers, and the Fiat Motor Club (Great Britain). He was a Steward and Vice-Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, a director of Automobile Proprietary Ltd. and Motoring Services Ltd., and a member of the RAC Public Policy Committee, the British Motor Sports Council, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Committee of Management. He was an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers.

In 1973 Curzon and his wife Grace appeared in Nick Broomfield's short film Proud to Be British.

Awards

On 26 June 1953 Curzon was made an Officer of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and was promoted to Commander of the Order on 20 June 1956. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1961 Birthday Honours for "political and public services in Buckinghamshire."

Family

Lord Howe married Priscilla Weigall, only daughter of Sir Archibald Weigall, on 23 July 1935 and they were divorced in 1943. They have two daughters, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren:

He married Grace Lilian Barker Wakeling, daughter of Stephan Frederick Wakeling, on 30 April 1946. They have two daughters, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren:

He was succeeded in the earldom by his second cousin, Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe.