Algernon Skeffington, 12th Viscount Massereene
Algernon William John Clotworthy Skeffington, 12th Viscount Massereene and 5th Viscount Ferrard, DSO (28 November 1873 – 20 July 1956) was an Ulster Unionist member of the Senate of Northern Ireland from 1921-1929. During this period he served as Deputy Leader of the Senate and Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister.[1][2]
Skeffington was the eldest son of Clotworthy John Skeffington, 11th Viscount Massereene by Florence Whyte-Melville, only daughter of Major George Whyte-Melville. He succeeded his father as 12th Viscount Massereene and 5th Viscount Ferrard in 1905, both in the Peerage of Ireland; his inheritance included about 16,000 acres.[3] They also held the title Baron Oriel, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave them the right to sit in the House of Lords[4]
He entered the army in 1895, and served with the 17th Lancers, where in 1900 he was promoted Captain.[4] From 1900 to 1902 he served with his regiment in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899-1901), where he was wounded, mentioned in Despatches twice, and for which he was promoted a brevet Major and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[5] He retired from the army in 1907, but served again as an officer with the North Irish Horse in World War I 1914-18.
Lord Massereene was Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 1921-1929.[4]
He also served as Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of County Antrim 1916-1938.[4]
Lord Massereene married twice. In 1905 he married Jean Barbara Ainsworth (d 1937), e d of Sir John Ainsworth, 1st Baronet. They had one son, John Whyte-Melville-Skeffington, who succeeded as 13th Viscount. In 1940 he re-married Mrs Florence Clementina Vere Vere-Laurie.[4]
References
- ↑ The Government of Northern Ireland
- ↑ Ark Elections, The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921-72
- ↑ "MASSEREENE, 12th Viscount". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1189.
- 1 2 3 4 5 MASSEREENE and FERRARD’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27359. p. 6305. 27 September 1901.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New office |
Deputy Leader of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1921–1929 |
Succeeded by 6th Viscount Bangor |
| Preceded by New office |
Parliamentary Secretary Department of the Prime Minister (Northern Ireland) 1921 – 1929 |
Succeeded by 6th Viscount Bangor |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by Clotworthy John Skeffington |
Viscount Massereene and Viscount Ferrard 1905 – 1956 |
Succeeded by John Whyte-Melville-Skeffington |