George Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan

The Right Honourable
The Lord Raglan
GBE, CB
Under-Secretary of State for War
In office
13 November 1900 – 8 August 1902
Monarch Victoria
Edward VII
Prime Minister The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by George Wyndham
Succeeded by The Earl of Hardwicke
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
In office
1902–1919
Monarch Edward VII
George V
Preceded by The Lord Henniker
Succeeded by Sir William Fry
Personal details
Born 18 September 1857
Died 24 October 1921
Nationality British
Spouse(s) Ethel Jemima Ponsonby
Military service
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1870-c.1880
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Second Anglo-Afghan War

George FitzRoy Henry Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan GBE, CB (18 September 1857 – 24 October 1921), styled The Honourable George Somerset until 1884, was a British soldier and Conservative politician. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War from 1900 to 1902 and was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1902 to 1919.

Contents

Background and education

A member of the Somerset family headed by the Duke of Beaufort, Somerset was the son of Richard Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan, by his first wife Lady Georgina Lygon, third daughter of Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp. He was a godchild of George V of Hanover, Somerset became a Page of Honour to Queen Victoria in 1868, which he remained until 1874.[1] He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst.

Military and political career

In 1870 Somerset joined the Grenadier Guards. He fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, reaching the rank of Captain.[2] He served as Under-Secretary of State for War un the Unionist Government headed by Lord Salisbury from 1900 to 1902[3] and was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1902 to 1919.[4] During his term as Lieutenant Governor he became the Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons in the Isle of Man from 1912 to 1919 and had a Lodge named in his honour.

Family

Lord Raglan married Lady Ethel Jemima Ponsonby,[5] daughter of Walter Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough, on 28 February 1883. They had six children.[6] He died in October 1921, aged 64, and was succeeded in the barony by his son, Fitzroy.

References

Court offices
Preceded by
Arthur Lyttleton
Page of Honour
1874–1879
Succeeded by
Count Edward Gleichen
Political offices
Preceded by
George Wyndham
Under-Secretary of State for War
1900–1902
Succeeded by
The Earl of Hardwicke
Government offices
Preceded by
The Lord Henniker
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
1902–1919
Succeeded by
Sir William Fry
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Richard Somerset
Baron Raglan
1884–1921
Succeeded by
Fitzroy Somerset