Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton

Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton (right) with brother R F Watson, Directors of Newmarket Bloodstock Ltd. Company Christmas card portrait circa 1960

Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton, born George Miles Watson, (1899–1968) was the son of Joseph Watson, 1st Baron Manton and Frances Claire Nickols.

Early life

George Miles Watson was born on 21 June 1899.[1][2] He was the eldest son of Joseph Watson, 1st Baron Manton (1873–1922), the Leeds soap magnate, and (Frances) Claire Nickols, daughter of Harold Nickols of Sandford House, Kirkstall, Leeds.[3][4]

Watson had three younger brothers, Robert Fraser, Alastair Joseph, and Richard Mark Watson, all born by 1906.[3] He was educated at Harrow.[1][2]

Barony and estate

He succeeded as 2nd Baron Manton on the death of his father in 1922.[1] He sold the Compton Verney to Samuel Lamb.[5] In 1927, he sold the Manton racehorse training establishment near Marlborough, Wilts., which had been purchased by his father.[6]

Marriage and children

He married twice. Firstly on 18 April 1923 Alathea Alys Mary Pauline Langdale,[1][7][8][9] the 2nd daughter of Colonel Philip Joseph Langdale, OBE, JP, DL, of Houghton Hall, Sancton, Yorkshire.[8] Alathea filed for divorce in 1934, which was granted in 1936.[2][9][10]

Secondly he married on June 1, 1938 Leila Joan Reynolds daughter of Major Philip Guy Reynolds, DSO. Leila was formerly the wife of John Dane Player,[4] who had cited Manton in his own divorce proceedings, starting 1937.[11] She became after Manton's death Lady Brownlow, having married, as his 3rd wife, Peregrine Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow of Belton House, Grantham.[4]

Career

In the 1920s, Manton had been a jockey under National Hunt Rules. In 1938, he purchased Plumpton Place in Sussex, near Lewes. There he became an owner and breeder of racehorses. Hard Sauce, produced there, sired the winner of the 1958 Derby, Hard Ridden.[7]

For the British Bloodstock Agency, he travelled to India and South America.[7] He was a Newmarket Bloodstock Ltd director.[2][7]

Death

Manton died in June 1968 in Lewes at his Plumpton Place home.[12] On his death, the title passed to his son by Alethea Langdale, Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Charles Roger Dod; Robert Phipps Dod (1960). "Manton, 2nd Baron (George Miles Watson)". Dod's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland, Including All the Titled Classes. p. 159.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Kelly's Directories. 1963. p. 801.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Joseph Watson". Grace's Guide - British Industrial History. Retrieved July 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Kelly's Directories. 2000. p. 1097. ISBN 978-0-333-54577-5.
  5. ↑ "A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 5: Kington hundred". 1949. pp. 58–60. Retrieved 16 July 2013. |chapter= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ "History of Manton". Brian Meehan. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "Obituary - Lord Manton". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group Limited). 14 August 2003. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Administrative history - Langdale family of Holme, Yorkshire - Hull History Centre (Hull University Archives)". The National Archives. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Divorce Court File: J 77/3359 2564. Appellant: Alathea Alys Mary Pauline Watson, Baroness Manton. Respondent: George Miles Watson, Baron Manton.". National Archive (Held by The National Archives, Kew). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Divorce Court File: J 77/3359. Divorce and matrimonial cause files, described at item level". National Archive (Held by The National Archives, Kew). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Divorce Court File: 4248. Appellant: John Dane Player. Respondent: Leila Joan Player. Co-respondent: George Miles Watson (Baron Manton). Type: Husband's petition for divorce [hd].". National Archive (Held by The National Archives, Kew). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "2nd Baron Manton". The Bloodstock Breeders' Annual Review, Volume 57. British Bloodstock Agency. 1968. p. 57.

External links

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Joseph Watson		 Baron Manton
1922-1968 		Succeeded by
Joseph Rupert Eric Robert Watson