Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster

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Gilbert Henry Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster PC (1 October 183024 December 1910), known as Lord Aveland from 1867 to 1888 and as Lord Willoughby de Eresby from 1888 to 1892, was a British Liberal politician and court official.

Born Gilbert Henry Heathcote, he was the son of Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baron Aveland and Clementina Elizabeth Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. In 1872 he assumed by Royal license the additional surnames of Willoughby and Drummond. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1852 Ancaster was elected to the House of Commons for Boston, a seat he held until 1856, and then represented Rutland until he succeeded his father as second Baron Aveland in 1867. He also held the office of Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain from 1871 to 1901 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1880. In 1888 he also succeeded his mother as twenty-fifth Baron Willoughby de Eresby and four years later he was created Earl of Ancaster, in the County of Lincoln. This was a revival of the title held by his maternal ancestors the Dukes of Ancaster and Kesteven.

Lord Ancaster married Lady Evelyn Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of Charles Gordon, 10th Marquess of Huntly, in 1863. Their second son the Hon. Claud Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby was a Conservative politician. His sixth daughter, Mary, married the 14th Earl of Dalhousie and became the mother of both the 15th and the 16th Earl. Lord Ancaster died on 24 December 1910, aged 80, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James William Freshfield and
Benjamin Cabbell
Member of Parliament for Boston
with Benjamin Cabbell

1852–1856
Succeeded by
Herbert Ingram and
Benjamin Cabbell
Preceded by
Sir Gilbert Heathcote and
Gerard Noel
Member of Parliament for Rutland
with Gerard Noel

1856–1857
Succeeded by
Gerard Noel and
George Finch
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
new creation
Earl of Ancaster
1892–1910
Succeeded by
Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby
Preceded by
Gilbert Heathcote
Baron Aveland
1867–1910
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Clementina Drummond-Willoughby
Baron Willoughby de Eresby
1871–1910
Succeeded by
Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby