Nationality British Name Hugo 11th Political party Conservative Role Politician | Spouse(s) Mary Constance Wyndham Died July 12, 1937 Profession Politician Party Conservative Party | |
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Born 25 August 1857
Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, UK ( 1857-08-25 ) Children Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho Grandchildren David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss, Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield Great grandchildren James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss, Iain David Charteris, Lord Elcho Similar People Martin Charteris - Baron Ch, Lady Cynthia Asquith, Violet Manners - Duchess | ||
Hugo Richard Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss and 7th Earl of March DL (25 August 1857 – 12 July 1937), styled Lord Elcho from 1883 to 1914, was a Scottish Conservative politician. His full title was Hugo Wemyss Charteris Douglas.
Life
Wemyss and March was the fifth but eldest surviving son of Francis Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss, and his wife Lady Anne Frederica, daughter of Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield. He entered Parliament for Haddingtonshire in 1883 (succeeding his father), but lost his seat in the 1885 general election. He returned to the House of Commons in the 1886 general election as one of two representatives for Ipswich, a seat he held until 1895. He succeeded his father in the two earldoms in 1914 and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire from 1918 to 1937.
Lord Wemyss and March married Mary Constance, daughter of the Hon. Percy Scawen Wyndham and sister of George Wyndham, in 1883. They were both two of the original members of The Souls. Their eldest daughter Lady Cynthia married Herbert Asquith and became a well-known writer. The Countess of Wemyss and March died in April 1937, aged 74. Lord Wemyss and March only survived her by three months and died in July of the same year, aged 79. He is buried in the family burial enclosure on the north side of Aberlady churchyard.
He was succeeded in his titles by his grandson David, his eldest son Captain Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho, having been killed in action in the First World War. The latter's second son was Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield. His grand daughter was the socialite Ann Fleming and his grandson, Hugo Charteris, was a renowned post war author and screenwriter. He is the great-grandfather of the Scottish cartoonist Jamie Charteris. An affair with Lady Hermione Whilhemina Duncombe allegedly produced a son, Edward FitzGerald, 7th Duke of Leinster.
Lord Wemyss and March's married life was detailed in the book The Wild Wyndhams by Claudia Renton.