Charles Wood, 3rd Earl of Halifax

Charles Edward Peter Neil Wood, 3rd Earl of Halifax (born 14 March 1944), otherwise known as Peter Wood and styled Lord Irwin between 1959 and 1980, is a British peer and Conservative politician.

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Background

Lord Halifax is the third child and only son of Charles Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax and grandson of E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, Viceroy of India and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. His mother, Ruth Dowager Countess of Halifax, was the daughter of Neil Primrose and granddaughter of Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.^[1]

He was brought up at Swinford Paddocks, Newmarket and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.

Career

As Peter Wood, he unsuccessfully contested Dearne Valley as a Conservative candidate at the February general election of 1974 and the October general election of the same year. In 1980 he succeeded to his father's earldom.

Lord Halifax is a non-executive director of Hambros Bank, Vice-Chairman of Christie, Manson & Woods, the European Division of Christie's international fine arts auctioneers, and a director of Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd.

Halifax is also Vice-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, High Steward of York Minster, a Knight of St John and JP.^[2]

Family

Lord Halifax married Camilla Younger, of the Scottish brewing family, first in 1976 until a divorce in 1989 then again in 1996. Her first husband, Richard Parker Bowles (married 1973, divorced 1976), is brother of Andrew Parker Bowles, first husband of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Lady Halifax and the Duchess are therefore former sisters-in-law.^[3]

Lord and Lady Halifax have a son and a daughter:

James Charles Wood, who uses the title - Lord Irwin (born 24 August 1977), heir apparent to the earldom, m. Georgia Clarkson; they have issue:
- - - Hon Rex Patrick Wood (born 12 August 2010)
  - Hon Audrey Nancy Wood (born 23 January 2013)

- Lady Joanna Victoria Wood (born 15 January 1980)

From her first marriage Lady Halifax also has a daughter, Emma Parker Bowles (born 1974).

Lord Halifax had three children to Lady Wendy Agnes Blackwood-Davidson. They had three children:

Hon David Peter Wood (b. 29 May 1990). Who uses his fathers courtesy title, Viscount Halifax. He gave the Earl his third grandchild:
- Maddison Ella Brianna Wood (b. 25 July 2013)
Lady Rebecca Louise Wood (b. 10 October 1991)
Lady Megan Laura Wood (b. 15 April 1995)

The Earl and Countess live on the 13,000 acre family estate, Garrowby Hall near Garrowby, East Riding of Yorkshire. Lord James, the eldest child and Lady Joanna, the eldest daughter, both live in London. Lord David, lives on the Hickleton estate and Lady Rebecca and Lady Megan both live in Sheffield. Lady Halifax is the national president of Macmillan Cancer Support.^[4]