John Francis Charles, 7th Count de Salis-Soglio

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Sir John Francis Charles de Salis, 7th Count, CMG, CVO (1909), KCMG (1913) (19 July 1864 - 14 January 1939).

British diplomat and landowner.

He was the eldest son of Count John Francis William de Salis (1825 - 1871), a diplomat and renowned numismaticist of Hillingdon, by his wife Amelia Frances Harriet (1837-8.1.1885), daughter of Christopher Tower, JP DL MP, of Huntsmoor Park, Iver.

After Eton (1877-1882) he was nominated an Attaché in the diplomatic service 20 November 1886. He passed a competitive examination, January 14, 1887. On 12 June 1888 he was appointed to Brussels as an Attaché and promoted to 3rd Secretary, January 14, 1889; thence...; 24 April 1892 Madrid; Promoted to 2nd Secretary August 22, 1893; August 1894 Cairo under Lord Cromer in charge of the agency there when the Dervishes were active (he was granted an allowance for knowledge of Arabic, April 2, 1895); autumn 1897 Berlin; 1899 Brussels; 1901 Athens, head of chancery (dealing with the Macedonian problem); promoted to be a 1st Secretary April1, 1904. Employed 1901-06 Foreign Office London; Appointed a British Delegate for a negotiation of a new Commercial Convention with Roumania, September 7, 1905; Berlin charge d'affairs and counsellor of the embassy 1906-1911; was a British delegate at the International Copyright Conference at Berlin, October, November 1908; November 1911-16 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Montenegro, Cettinje; envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary on a special mission to the Holy See, 1916-1923, (Pope Benedict XV 1916-1922, and same to Pope Pius XI 1922-1923). Unemployed from January 8, 1923.

He was one of the three members of the 1931 of the Malta Royal Commission, report issued in a blue-book, 11 February 1932.

In 1876 the Count was listed in Landowners, Return of Owners of Land, Dublin, 1876, as being of Tandragee and London and owning 3,663 acres worth £5,392 per annum in County Armagh and 4,026 acres worth £3,349 per annum in County Limerick. The 1883 and 1887 Burke's Peerage and Walford's list him as living at Grange Hill, Limerick; 7, Athlestone terrace; and Hillingdon place, Middlesex. He was accordingly a JP for Limerick and Armagh; and Deputy Lieutenant (DL) for Limerick. Debret's Peerage in 1925 had his seats as: Loughgur, co. Limerick; and Bondo, Bregalia, Grisons. In 1908 he was number 29,148 in the list of descendants of Edward III; 7,337 in the list of those living. His livery was: green coat with a yellow waistcoat.

In addition to his CVO, CMG and KCMG, he held the 2nd Class Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, and the 1911 Coronation Medal.

He married, 6 December 1890, Countess Hélène Marie de Riquet, (1864- 31 May 1902), daughter of Prince Eugène de Prince de Caraman-Chimay, a descendant of François-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet.

• Clubs:

He was a member of the Marlborough; Bath; White's; and Travellers'.

[edit] His Brother

Count (Henry) Rodolph (Rudie) de Salis (30 June 1866 - 3 March 1936). Author Bradshaw's Canals & Navigable Rivers of England & Wales, 1904, 1918 and 1928. De Salis: 'explored the waterways yard by yard, mile by mile travelling in his launch for 11 years and covering 14,000 miles'. He was a main witness to the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways (1906).

Educated at Eton (1880-1884) (Shooting VIII, 1882-83, Peek Cup, 1883). Associate Member Institution Civil Engineers. Associate of the Institute of Naval Architects. Member of the Society of Art. JP for Buckinghamshire (1898); High Sheriff, Bucks (1915). Member Buckinghamshire County Council (1898-1916); Thames Conservancy Board (1911-1916). He was director of: Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd (canal carriers); Windsor Electrical Installation Co. Ltd (1901-1920); Slough and Datchet Electrical Supply Co. Ltd (1908-1920).

He married, 9 May 1893, Alice Mary (d.10 June 1939), daughter of Robert Lambert (of the Monmouthshire, 43rd, Light Infantry), of Weston, Thames Ditton. They lived at Ivy Lodge, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire; Acton Lodge, Leamington Spa; and retired to Chy-Morvah, St. Ives, Cornwall.

[edit] Ancestors

Some of De Salis's ancestors

John Francis Charles de Salis	Father: John Francis William, Count de Salis	Paternal Grandfather: Peter, Count de Salis	Paternal Great-Grandfather: Jerome, Count de Salis
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Sophia Drake
		Paternal Grandmother: Cecile Bourgeoise (1802-1892)	Paternal Great-Grandfather: David Bourgeoise
			Paternal Great-Grandmother: unknown wife to David Bourgeoise
	Mother: Amelia Frances Tower (1837-1885). They married 1 February 1862.	Maternal Grandfather: Christopher Tower (1804-1884)	Maternal Great-Grandfather: Christopher Thomas Tower (1775-1867)
			Maternal Great-Grandmother: Harriet, daughter of Sir Thomas Beauchamp-Proctor, 2nd Bt. And sister of Sir William.
		Maternal Grandmother: Lady Sophia Cust (1811-1882)	Maternal Great-grandfather: Earl Brownlow
			Maternal Great-Grandmother: Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Bankes

[edit] References

• Quadrennial di Fano Saliceorum, volume one, by R. de Salis, London, 2003.
• De Salis Family : English Branch, by Rachel Fane De Salis, Henley-on-Thames, 1934.
• Burke's Irish Family Records, ed. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Peerage Ltd, London, 1976.
• A genealogical and heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry, by Sir (John) Bernard Burke, CB, LLD, vol. 2, London, 1895/1899 (pages 574-77).
• Burke's Peerage, Foreign Noblemen / Foreign Titles sections: 1851, 1936, 1956, etc.
• Debrett's Peerage, Foreign Titles section, 1920, 1925, etc.
• Der Grafliche Hauser, Band XI [volume 11], Genealogisches Handbuch Des Adels, C. A. Starke Verlag, Limburg an der Lahn, 1983 (pps 331-356).
• Armorial Families, a directory of Coat- Armour, compiled by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, volume 1, 1929.
• The Foreign Office List and Diplomatic and Consular Year Book for 1928, ed. Godfrey E. P. Hertslet, Harrison & sons, London, 1928. (Page 390).
• The Times, Obituaries, 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th January, 1939.
• The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, being a complete table of all the descendants now living of Edward III, King of England, by the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, Anne of Exeter volume, TC & EC Jack, London, 1907 (page 361).

Regnal titles
Preceded by John Francis William, 6th Count de Salis	Count de Salis-Soglio 1871–1939	Succeeded by John Eugene, 8th Count de Salis