Algernon Skeffington, 12th Viscount Massereene

Algernon William John Clotworthy Skeffington, 12th Viscount Massereene and 5th Viscount Ferrard DSO (28 November 1873 – 20 July 1952), was an Ulster Unionist member of the Senate of Northern Ireland from 1921-1929. During this period he served as Deputy Leader of the Senate and Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister.[1][2]

Biography

Skeffington was the eldest son of Clotworthy John Skeffington, 11th Viscount Massereene by Florence Whyte-Melville, only daughter of Major George Whyte-Melville. He succeeded his father as 12th Viscount Massereene and 5th Viscount Ferrard in 1905, both in the Peerage of Ireland; his inheritance included about 16,000 acres.[3] They also held the title Baron Oriel, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave them the right to sit in the House of Lords[4]

He entered the army in 1895, and served with the 17th Lancers, where in 1900 he was promoted Captain.[4] From 1900 to 1902 he served with his regiment in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899-1901), where he was wounded, mentioned in Despatches twice, and for which he was promoted a brevet Major and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[5] He retired from the army in 1907, but served again as an officer with the North Irish Horse in World War I 1914-18.

Lord Massereene was Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 1921-1929.[4]

He also served as Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of County Antrim 1916-1938.[4]

Lord Massereene married twice. In 1905 he married Jean Barbara Ainsworth (d 1937), e d of Sir John Ainsworth, 1st Baronet. They had one son, John Whyte-Melville-Skeffington, who succeeded as 13th Viscount. In 1940 he re-married Mrs Florence Clementina Vere Vere-Laurie.[4]

References

  1. The Government of Northern Ireland
  2. Ark Elections, The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921-72
  3. "MASSEREENE, 12th Viscount". Who's Who, 59: p. 1189. 1907.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 MASSEREENE and FERRARD’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27359. p. 6305. 27 September 1901.
Political offices
Preceded by
New office
Deputy Leader of the Senate of Northern Ireland
19211929
Succeeded by
6th Viscount Bangor
Preceded by
New office
Parliamentary Secretary
Department of the Prime Minister (Northern Ireland)

1921 1929
Succeeded by
6th Viscount Bangor
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by
Clotworthy John Skeffington
Viscount Massereene and Viscount Ferrard
1873 1956
Succeeded by
John Whyte-Melville-Skeffington