Gwendolen Guinness, Countess of Iveagh
Gwendolen Guinness, Countess of Iveagh | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | February 16, 1966 (aged 84) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, noblewoman |
| Years active | 1927–1935 (as MP) |
| Known for | Conservative MP for Southend, gift of Clandon Park House to National Trust |
Gwendolen Florence Mary Guinness, Countess of Iveagh (born Onslow; 22 July 1881 – 16 February 1966) was an Anglo-Irish noblewoman and Conservative Party politician, connected through marriage to the Guinness brewing family.
Early life
She was born to William Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow, and Florence Coulston Onslow.
Marriage and career
After marrying Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh and Conservative Member of Parliament for Southend, she took over his parliamentary seat in the 1927 Southend by-election when he succeeded to the earldom. In that election, she achieved 54.6% of the vote and later expanded her lead in the 1931 general election, holding the position until her retirement in 1935.
Her parliamentary successor was Henry "Chips" Channon, who was married to her eldest daughter, Honor Guinness. Additionally, another son-in-law, Alan Lennox-Boyd, represented Mid Bedfordshire as MP from 1931 to 1960. This made Gwendolen and Lennox-Boyd the first mother- and son-in-law duo to serve concurrently as Members of Parliament.
Clandon Park House
In 1956, she gifted her childhood residence in Surrey, Clandon Park House, to the National Trust.
Titles
- 1881 – 1903: The Lady Gwendolen Florence Mary Onslow
- 1903 – 1919: The Lady Gwendolyn Guinness
- 1919 – 1927: Viscountess Elveden
- 1927 – 1966: The Right Honourable The Countess of Iveagh