Henry Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Earl of Ducie


Henry John Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Earl of Ducie , styled Lord Moreton between 1840 and 1853, was a British courtier and Liberal Party politician. He notably served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1859 to 1866, and Lord Warden of the Stannaries from 1888 to 1908.

Background and education

Moreton was born on 25 June 1827 at Sherborne, Dorset, the eldest son of Henry Reynolds-Moreton, 2nd Earl of Ducie, and his wife, Elizabeth Dutton, daughter of John Dutton, 2nd Baron Sherborne. He was educated at Eton.

Political career

In 1852, Moreton entered Parliament as Member of Parliament for Stroud. The following year he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords. In 1859 he was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard under Lord Palmerston, a post he held until the government fell in 1866, the last year under the premiership of Lord Russell.

Other honours

Apart from his political career, Lord Ducie was Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire between 1857 and 1911 and Lord Warden of the Stannaries in Cornwall and member of the Council of the Prince of Wales between 1888 and 1908. In 1906 he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
The earl was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 1st Administrative Battalion, Gloucestershire Rifle Volunteer Corps on 16 June 1868 and held the position for 40 years. The battalion later became the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.

Family

Lord Ducie married his first cousin, Julia Langston, daughter of James Langston, MP, on 24 May 1849. They had two children:
The Countess of Ducie died in February 1895 and Lord Ducie remained a widower until his death at Gloucester in October 1921, aged 94. As his only son had predeceased him, Lord Ducie's titles passed to his younger brother, Berkeley Moreton, 4th Earl of Ducie.

Tortworth Court

Between 1848 and 1853 he had Tortworth Court built where he then lived. During his long life he spent much time acquiring unusual and exotic plants from around the world to plant in the grounds of Tortworth Court. Many of the plants remain and the grounds now comprises one of the great arboretums of England.

Literary efforts

In 1872, a short article by the third earl entitled Crocodile shooting was published in Land and Water. It is available online through the Open Library.

Sport

The Earl was a minor cricketer. He played one match at county level for Shropshire in 1862, making 5 runs, while playing at club level for Shrewsbury.

Arms