Summary
Marjorie Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun[fn 2][2] (born 18 October 1930), is a Scottish peer. Until her retirement on 12 December 2014, she was the only holder of a lordship of Parliament who had a seat in the House of Lords as an elected hereditary peer. Lady Saltoun is the Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Fraser since 1 May 1984, by decree of the Court of the Lord Lyon. She is also the head of the Scottish lowland family the Frasers of Philorth.
The Lady Saltoun | |
|---|---|
 Lady Saltoun pictured in 2005 in her Parliamentary Robes as a Peer | |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| as a hereditary peer 3 December 1979 – 11 November 1999 | |
| Preceded by | The 20th Lord Saltoun |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999 – 12 December 2014[fn 1] | |
| Election | 1999 |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Kinnoull |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marjorie Flora Fraser 18 October 1930[1] Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Spouse | |
| Parent(s) | Alexander Fraser, 20th Lord Saltoun Dorothy Geraldine Welby |
Biography edit
Flora Fraser was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, as the daughter of Alexander Fraser, 20th Lord Saltoun and Dorothy Geraldine Welby. Her maternal grandfather was Sir Charles Glynne Earle Welby, 5th Baronet, who was a member of parliament in the early 20th century. She had an elder brother, Alexander Simon Fraser, Master of Saltoun, who was the heir apparent to the lordship, but was killed in action in March 1944 while serving with the Grenadier Guards, making Flora heir presumptive.[3] In 1979, when her father died, Flora became the 21st Lady Saltoun, and also gained a seat in the House of Lords. In 1999, because of the House of Lords Act 1999, 662 hereditary peers were removed from the House. However, Lady Saltoun was one of the ninety hereditary peers who were elected to remain in the House.
On 6 October 1956 at Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Lady Saltoun married Alexander Ramsay of Mar (1919–2000), a grandson of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, keeping her maiden surname after marriage.
The couple have three daughters:
- Katharine Fraser, Mistress of Saltoun (born 11 October 1957), the heir presumptive to her mother's peerage and the leadership of the Clan Fraser. Married Mark Nicolson on 3 May 1980 and had issue.
- The Hon. Alice Elizabeth Margaret Ramsay of Mar (born 8 July 1961) married David Ramsey on 28 July 1990 and had issue.
- The Hon. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Ramsay of Mar (born 15 April 1963), the youngest great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.
Footnotes edit
- ^ Retired under Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.
- ^ It has recently been determined that Margaret Abernethy succeeded her brother, Alexander Abernethy, 9th Lord Saltoun, in 1668, but only survived him by about 10 weeks and had not previously been counted in the title's numbering. This new information has resulted in the ordinals in subsequent Saltoun Lords being revised. As a result, Flora Fraser is sometimes listed as the 20th Lady Saltoun.
References edit
- ^ Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 3510. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
- ^ "History". Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
- ^ Mosley 2003, p. 3514
External links edit
- Lady Saltoun's website