Sir Gilbert Henry Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 6th Baronet, 1st Earl of Ancaster PC (1 October 1830 – 24 December 1910), known as 2nd Baron Aveland from 1867 to 1888 and as 25th Baron 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. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.[1]
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. In 1872 he assumed by Royal license the additional surnames of Willoughby and Drummond. He held the office of Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain from 1871 to 1901 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1880. In 1888 he 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.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James William Freshfield Benjamin Cabbell |
Member of Parliament for Boston 1852 – 1856 With: Benjamin Cabbell |
Succeeded by Herbert Ingram Benjamin Cabbell |
| Preceded by Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bt Hon. Gerard Noel |
Member of Parliament for Rutland 1856 – 1867 With: Hon. Gerard Noel |
Succeeded by Hon. Gerard Noel George Finch |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Earl of Ancaster 1892 – 1910 |
Succeeded by Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby |
| Preceded by Gilbert John Heathcote |
Baron Aveland 1867 – 1910 |
|
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Clementina Elizabeth Drummond-Willoughby |
Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1888 – 1910 |
Succeeded by Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby |