Preceded by Viscount Elveden Nationality British Name Gwendolen Countess Died February 16, 1966 | Succeeded by Henry Channon Political party Conservative Role Politician Children Lady Brigid Guinness | |
Full Name Gwendolen Florence Mary Onslow Born 22 July 1881 ( 1881-07-22 ) Spouse Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh Grandchildren Princess Antonia, Duchess of Wellington Great grandchildren Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Douro Similar People Princess Antonia - Duchess, Arthur Guinness, Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg‑Schwerin, Wilhelm - German Crown Pri | ||
Gwendolen Florence Mary Guinness, Countess of Iveagh (22 July 1881 – 16 February 1966), nee Lady Gwendolen Florence Mary Onslow, known as Lady Gwendolen Guinness from 1903 to 1919 and Viscountess Elveden from 1919 to 1927, was a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom, and, by marriage, a member of the Anglo-Irish Guinness brewing dynasty.
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Early life
She was the daughter of William Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow (1853–1911), and Florence Coulston Onslow, nee Gardner (1853–1934).
Marriage and career
She was married to the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Southend, Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh. In 1927, he ceased to be an MP when he succeeded to his father's earldom. The Countess of Iveagh, as Gwendolen Guinness was now known, won the Southend by-election on 19 November 1927 to replace her husband as MP. She served until her retirement at the 1935 general election.
When she retired in 1935 she was succeeded as MP by her eldest daughter Honor Guinness's husband, Henry "Chips" Channon. Another son-in-law, Alan Lennox-Boyd, was an MP (for Mid Bedfordshire 1931-60), making the first mother- and son-in-law set of MPs.
Clandon Park
In 1956 she presented her Surrey childhood home, Clandon Park, to the National Trust.