Ralph Beauclerk
Ralph Charles Beauclerk MBE (1917–2007), 6th Marquis de Valero de Urría, was in remainder to the dukedom of Saint Albans.[1]
Both of Beauclerk's parents were of aristocratic descent. His father was a British ex-pat engineer in Argentina William Topham Sidney Beauclerk (1864–1950), whose great-grandfather was Topham Beauclerk (by Lady Diana Beauclerk), who was in turn a grandson of the 1st Duke of St Albans.[2] His mother was Lola, Countess de Peñalver (1881–1972), only surviving child of Enrique, 6th Marquis de Arcos.[2]
Educated at Downside School and then in France,[2] Captain Beauclerk served as a military intelligence officer during World War II.[3]
After distinguished military service, he worked overseas as a merchant banker including in Hong Kong and Shanghai. In 1989, he inherited one of his Spanish family marquessates, that of Valero de Urría;[4] a relation of his is Esther Koplowitz, now 8th Marquesa de Casa Peñalver.
Personal life
[edit]On 24 August 1957 at Saigon, Vietnam, he married Noirine Mary Bowen (died 20 January 1997), daughter of James Bowen, of Bowen's Court, County Cork;[2] they had two children:
- Dolores Mary Beauclerk (born 11 Jul 1958), married Dr Richard Makower and has three children.
- William Rafael Beauclerk (born 14 Aug 1961), ex Lieutenant in the Royal Navy serving on HMY Britannia,[2] now 7th Marquis de Valero de Urría.[5] His wife, since 1986, is Margaret Eleanor Mountjoy; they have a daughter and two sons:
- Charlotte Mary Beauclerk (born 24 July 1987), heiress apparent to the marquessate.
- Alexander Charles Beauclerk (born 11 February 1990).
- Cameron William Beauclerk (born 25 March 1993).[2]
Honours and decorations
[edit]The 6th Marquis de Valero de Urría was awarded :
: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) ;
: Légion d'honneur ;
: Croix de guerre ;
: Knight of Malta (SMOM).
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ www.thepeerage.com
- ^ a b c d e f Burke's Peerage & Baronetage. – 106th Ed. – Burke's Peerage Ltd., 1999. – ISBN 2-940085-02-1. – p. 2495.
- ^ www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
- ^ www.boe.es
- ^ www.boe.es
External links
[edit]- 1917 births
- 2007 deaths
- British Special Operations Executive personnel
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Intelligence Corps officers
- Beauclerk family
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Knights of Malta
- Marquesses of Spain
- Knights of the Legion of Honour
- World War II spies for the United Kingdom
- British people of Spanish descent