Charles Frederick Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, 13th Duke of St Albans, OBE (16 August 1915 – 8 October 1988) was a British soldier and hereditary peer.

Early life and education

St Albans was the son of Aubrey Topham de Vere Beauclerk (1850–1933) and Gwendolen Loftus Hughes (1880–1958). He was a great-grandson of William Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans. He was educated at Hordle House School, Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He attempted to rebuild a family fortune through a series of other failed ventures, which led to losses and an accusation of mishandling of share dealing in relation to the company Grendon Securities. In the 1970s, St Albans moved to Vence in France, before becoming a resident of Monaco. which he gave to charity.

Marriages and issue

St Albans married Nathalie Chatham Walker (1915–1985) on 21 March 1938. They divorced in 1947 having had one son:

  • Murray de Vere Beauclerk, 14th Duke of Saint Albans (born 19 January 1939)

He married secondly Suzanne Marie Adèle Fesq on 19 March 1947. They had five children:

  • Lord Peter Charles de Vere Beauclerk (born 13 January 1948)
  • Lord James Charles Fesq de Vere Beauclerk (born 6 February 1949)
  • Lord John William Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk (born 10 February 1950)
  • Lady Caroline Anne de Vere Beauclerk (born 19 July 1951)
  • unnamed daughter (born & died 15 November 1963)

Honours

St Albans was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1945.

thumb|right|100px|OBE insignia

Death

St Albans died in 1988 at the age of 73 and was succeeded in the dukedom and other titles by his eldest son, Murray.

Sources

  • Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th Edition, edited by Charles Mosley, Wilmington, Delaware, 2003, vol III, pp. 3459-3466,

References

  • The House of Nell Gwyn: Fortunes of the Beauclerk Family, Donald Adamson (William Kimber, Ldn 1974)