Name Francis 5th | Died April 12, 1977 | |
Francis Jack Richard Patrick Needham, (known as Pat) 5th Earl of Kilmorey (4 October 1915 – 12 April 1977) was an Irish peer.
The son of Major Hon. Francis Edward Needham, in turn a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Kilmorey, and Blanche Esther Combe, he succeeded to his uncle's titles in 1961. He did not inherit the Kilmorey estates on Mourne Park, near Kilkeel in Northern Ireland but instead inheriting contents to the value of the estate. According to Sir Richard Needham (current Earl of Kilmorey, in his book "Battling For Peace Northern Ireland Longest Serving British Minister" (1999) ) the fifth Earl did not believe any of his own family would wish to live in Northern Ireland again. Lady Norah Kilmorey, his Aunt and widow of the 4th Earl, continued to live at Mourne Park until her death in 1985 when the Estate passed to other family members.
On 28 April, he married Helen Bridget Faudel-Phillips, daughter of Sir Lionel Faudel-Phillips, 3rd Baronet. They had three sons, including his heir Richard Needham.