Bridget Helen "Biddy" Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland CBE (27 July 1896–17 April 1982), known as The Countess of Carlisle between 1918 and 1947, as Lady Monckton between 1947 and 1957, as The Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley between 1957 and 1965 and as The Dowager Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley between 1965 and 1982, was a British peeress and Conservative member of the House of Lords.
Born Bridget Hore-Ruthven, she was the eldest of four daughters of Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland, by Jean, daughter of Norman George Lampson, DL, JP, younger son of Sir Curtis Lampson, 1st Baronet. She was the niece of Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn, and of Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie.
On 17 January 1918 she married George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle, becoming Countess of Carlisle. They had two children:
During the Second World War, Lady Carlisle was Senior Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and Director of the Women's Advisory Council in India, for which she was appointed a CBE (military division) in 1947. Lord and Lady Carlisle also divorced that year and Lady Carlisle then became the second wife of Sir Walter Monckton, although they had no children. In 1956 she inherited the lordship of Ruthven of Freeland on the death of her father. A year later her husband was created Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, thus making her Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley. She took up her seat in the House of Lords in 1963 after the Peerage Act 1963 gave all Scottish peers and all female holders of hereditary peerages the right to sit in the upper chamber of parliament.[1]
Lady Monckton of Brenchley died in April 1982, aged 85, and was succeeded in her title by her son, the Earl of Carlisle.[1]
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Walter Hore-Ruthven |
Lady Ruthven of Freeland 1956–1982 |
Succeeded by Charles Howard |