Nicholas Vivian, 6th Baron Vivian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brigadier Nicholas Crespigny Lawrence Vivian, 6th Baron Vivian (11 December 1935 – 28 February 2004) was a British peer and soldier. He was one of the 92 hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999.

The son of the 5th Baron Vivian and Victoria Ruth Mary Rosamund Oliphant, he was educated a Eton College in Berkshire and the University of Madrid, where he received a diploma in Spanish Literature, History and Culture. In 1955, Vivian was commissioned to the 3rd Carabiniers (Army Emergency Reserve), which later merged with the Royal Scots Greys into the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. In 1957 he transferred to a Regular Army commission. From 1976, he commanded the 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers. Having then worked for defence intelligence staff at the UK Ministry of Defence, Vivian became deputy commander of the land forces in Cyprus in 1984. Elevated to the rank of Brigadier in 1987, he commanded the British Communication Zone until 1990, when he stepped down. Shortly after this, he was promoted Honorary Colonel of 306 Field Hospital, Territorial Army. In 1991, Vivian succeeded to his father's titles and joined the House of Lords, where he was Shadow Minister for Defence. Between 1994 and 2000, he was Commissioner for the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

Vivian married firstly Catherine Joyce Hope, daughter of James Kenneth Hope, on 13 December 1960. Being divorded in 1972, he married secondly Carol Martineau, daughter of Frederick Alan Martineau, in 1972. He had one son, Charles Vivian and one daughter by his first wife, and two daughters by his second wife.