Francis Richard Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss GCVO (4 August 1818 – 30 June 1914), styled as Lord Elcho between 1853 and 1883, was a British Whig politician. He founded the Liberty and Property Defence League.
Lord Elcho was commanding officer of the London Scottish regiment for 17 years from its formation in 1859.
He developed an interest in the alternative medical practice of Homeopathy, even becoming President of the London Homeopathic Hospital until his death. The strength of his belief is evidenced by his writing in March 1914:
"I wish all success to Homoeopathy, to which I attach my physical well-being in great measure. When I was 90 I was asked to what I attributed my well-being at that late period of life. My answer was, 'To parentage and moderation'. I should have added 'AND HOMOEOPATHY,' with which I have been treated since I was 20."[1]
He married Lady Anne Frederica Anson. In addition to his five sons he was also father of Evelyn Charteris, who married the 4th Viscount de Vesci (Vesey) of Abbey Leix (Queen's County). Their only daughter Mary Gertrude was the second wife of Aubrey Herbert (second son of Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon), whose daughter Laura Herbert married the writer Evelyn Waugh, and was the mother of Auberon Waugh.[2]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Augustus Moreton Sir Christopher Codrington |
Member of Parliament for East Gloucestershire 1841 – 1846 With: Sir Christopher Codrington |
Succeeded by Marquess of Worcester Sir Christopher Codrington |
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Buchan-Hepburn |
Member of Parliament for Haddingtonshire 1847 – 1883 |
Succeeded by Lord Elcho |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Marquess of Chandos The Lord Henry Lennox Thomas Bateson |
Junior Lord of the Treasury 1853 – 1855 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Monck Viscount Duncan |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by Francis Wemyss-Charteris |
Earl of Wemyss 1883 – 1914 |
Succeeded by Hugo Charteris |
| Earl of March 1883 – 1914 |
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