George John Charles Mercer Nairne Petty-Fitzmaurice, 8th Marquess of Lansdowne, DL (27 November 1912 – 25 August 1999), was a British peer and Conservative politician.

Background

Petty-Fitzmaurice was the only son of Lord Charles Mercer Nairne, the second son of Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. His father was killed in action in 1914 while on active service in the First World War, and his mother, the former Lady Violet Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, later married secondly John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever.

He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and served in the British Army in the Second World War.

In August 1944, Petty-Fitzmaurice's life was significantly changed when his cousins the 7th Marquess of Lansdowne and his younger brother were both killed in action in the War. As a result, he suddenly and unexpectedly inherited the family peerages and estates, except for the Lordship of Nairne, which under Scottish law went to the 7th Marquess's sister Katherine Evelyn Constance Bigham (1912–1995). Effectively his political career was ended by the election of the Labour government of 1964–1970. In 1964 he was appointed as a Privy Counsellor. They had four children:

  • Lady Caroline Margaret Petty-Fitzmaurice (1939–1956); she, like her mother, died in a shooting accident.

References

  • George, 8th Marquess of Lansdowne profile, thepeerage.com; Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  • Jane Gordon, now Lady Robert Mercer Nairne profile, thepeerage.com; Retrieved 1 June 2009.