Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose

John Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose TD (12 July 1909 – 15 February 1995) was a British nobleman, politician, and newspaper proprietor.

Berry was born in Surrey[1] on 12 July 1909, the eldest son of William Berry, later first Viscount Camrose and first Baronet Berry of Hackwood Park, and Mary Agnes Berry, née Corns. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he was tutored by Sir Roy Harrod.

Berry was Deputy Chairman of The Daily Telegraph 1939-87 and Vice Chairman of Amalgamated Press 1942-59.

On 10 March 1941 he was elected Member of Parliament (Conservative) for Hitchin in the by-election held after Sir Arnold Wilson was killed on active service. He held his seat until 1945, when it was won by Philip Asterley Jones (Labour).

Coterminously, he served in the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders). He saw active service in North Africa and Italy, rose to the rank of Major, was mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration (TD).

He succeeded to his father's viscountcy and baronetcy on 15 June 1954.

At the age of seventy-six, and following a discreet friendship of more than thirty years, Lord Camrose married the Honourable Joan Yarde-Buller, daughter of Sir John Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston and Jessie Yarde-Buller (née Smithers) Baroness Churston, then Jessie FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster, who was perhaps better known by her stage name Denise Orme. Lady Camrose had twice been previously married, first to Loel Guinness, and secondly to Prince Aly Khan, son and heir apparent of Aga Khan III. Prince Aly was disinherited and consequently Lady Camrose's son Karīm succeeded as Aga Khan IV. Lady Camrose was also known as Princess Joan and Princess Tajudaullah.

Lord Camrose died aged 85 in Westminster, London,[2] without issue, on 15 February 1995. He was survived by his wife, while the viscountcy and the baronetcy were inherited by his brother, Michael Berry, Baron Hartwell, who disclaimed the viscountcy for life.

References

  1. Births England and Wales 1837-1915
  2. Deaths England and Wales 1984-2006

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Arnold Wilson
Member of Parliament for Hitchin
19411945
Succeeded by
Philip Asterley Jones
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Berry
Viscount Camrose
19541995
Succeeded by
Michael Berry