Alexander Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton


Alexander Hugh Baring, 4th Baron Ashburton , was a British landowner and Conservative Party politician.

Early life

Baring was the son of Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton, and his wife Hortense Eugenie Claire Maret de Bassano. His sister, Hon. Marie Anne Louise Baring, was the wife of William FitzRoy, 6th Duke of Grafton.
His paternal grandparents were Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton and the American heiress Ana Louisa Bingham. His father was the younger brother of Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton and among his paternal relatives was Hon. Harriet Baring. His maternal grandfather was Hugues-Bernard Maret, duc de Bassano, the former Prime Minister of France.
He was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1857.

Career

Baring was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament for Thetford at a by-election in December 1857, filling the vacancy caused by his father's succession to the peerage. He was re-elected in 1859 and 1865, and held the seat until he succeeded to the peerage in 1868 on the death of his father.
On 16 June 1864, Baring was appointed to be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk. A member of the Baring family, he succeeded to the title of Baron Ashburton on 6 September 1868.

Personal life

On 5 January 1864, Baring was married to the Hon. Leonora Caroline Digby, daughter of Edward Digby, 9th Baron Digby and Lady Theresa Anna Maria Fox-Strangways. Together, they were the parents of:
He was an art collector and owned many prominent pieces, including Rembrandt's 1660 self portrait, Aelbert Cuyp's Horsemen and Herdsmen with Cattle, and Meindert Hobbema's Hut among Trees.
Lord Ashburton died at Bath House, Piccadilly in London and was succeeded in his title by his eldest son Francis. His widow died on 19 August 1930.