Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart

Statue in Memory of Lord Ninian. Situated in Gorsedd Gardens, Cardiff. Sculpted by William Goscombe John (1860-1952)

Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart (15 May 1883 – 2 October 1915) was a British Member of Parliament killed in the First World War. He was the second son of John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute and the Honourable Gwendolen Mary Anne Fitzalan Howard.

Lord Ninian was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was commissioned in 1903 into the 3rd Battalion of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and then served for two years in 1st Battalion, the Scots Guards.

He left the army after his marriage to the Hon. Ismay Preston in 1906 to concentrate on politics. In 1907 he was adopted as the Unionist candidate for the United Boroughs of Cardiff, Cowbridge and Llantrisant. He lost the election to D.A. Thomas in January 1910 but was successful in winning the seat in the December 1910 election.

In 1912 he took command of the 6th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. He was killed in action on 2 October 1915, while leading the 6th Welsh in a night attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, near La Bassée, aged 32.

Family

Lord Ninian married the Honourable Ismay Lucretia Mary Preston, daughter of Jenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston and Georgina Jane Connelan, on 16 June 1906; they had 4 children:

• Ninian Patrick Crichton-Stuart (31 October 1907 - 4 February 1910)
• Ismay Catherine Crichton-Stuart (23 December 1909 - 1989); she married, firstly, John Anthony Hardinge Giffard, 3rd Earl of Halsbury on 1 October 1930, but they divorced in 1936, having produced one son together. She married, secondly, Donald Walter Munro Ross on 30 August 1937, and had issue, one daughter with him.
• Claudia Miriam Joanna Crichton-Stuart (24 June 1913 - 19 June 1985)
• Major Michael Duncan David Crichton-Stuart (14 March 1915 - 1981); he married Barbara Symes, daughter of Sir George Stewart Symes, on 1 March 1941, and had issue one son and three daughters (the two elder being adopted). The son has one son and one daughter by his late wife, these two representing the heirs male of Lord Ninian.

After his death, his widow remarried on 30 April 1917 Captain Archibald Henry Maule Ramsay (4 May 1894 - 11 March 1955), later a Scottish Unionist MP for Peebles and South Midlothian 1931-1945; he is better known today as one of the most prominent British fascists. Ramsay and his wife had four sons together. Mrs Ramsay died 16 February 1975 aged 92, and was survived by six of her eight children.

Other information

Lord Ninian held the office of Justice of the Peace (JP) for Fife.

He held the office of MP for Cardiff between 1910 and 1915.

He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the 6th Battalion, Welsh Regiment.

Ninian Park, the home of Cardiff City Football Club was named after Lord Ninian, following Lord Ninian's help in agreeing to become guarantor for the new ground.

Commonwealth War Grave details

Name:	CRICHTON-STUART, Lord NINIAN EDWARD
Initials:	N E
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment/Service:	Welsh Regiment
Unit Text:	Commanding 6th Bn
Secondary Regiment:	Scots Guards
Secondary Unit Text:	formerly Lt., Reserve of Officers
Age:	32
Date of Death:	02/10/1915
Additional Information:	Second son of John Patrick, 3rd Marquess of Bute, K.T., and Gwendoline, Marchioness of Bute; husband of Lady Ninian Crichton-Stuart (now the Hon. Mrs A. H. M. Ramsay), of 87, Lancaster Gate, London. Member of Parliament for Cardiff 1910-1915 and Justice of the Peace for County Fife.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	III. M. 10
Cemetery:	BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by David Alfred Thomas	Member of Parliament for Cardiff December 1910 – 1915	Succeeded by James Cory