Frederick Ellis, 7th Baron Howard De Walden

Frederick George Ellis, 7th Baron Howard de Walden and 3rd Baron Seaford, was born on August 9, 1830, and died on November 3, 1899. He was a British landowner known for holding significant estates during the 19th century.

He was the son of Charles Ellis, 6th Baron Howard de Walden, and Lady Lucy Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, daughter of William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland. His education included attendance at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.

In his early years, Frederick contributed to managing his family's Jamaican sugar plantations. He visited Jamaica in 1846 and during the period 1853–1854, during which he attempted to improve sugar production by installing new machinery. These efforts were discontinued in 1855. Subsequently, Frederick appeared to focus less on the plantations and more on a military career, achieving the rank of major in the 4th Light Dragoons by 1867.

He inherited the titles of 7th Baron Howard de Walden and 3rd Baron Seaford upon his father's death, which occurred on August 29, 1868. At this time, he also inherited an estate that was heavily in debt. In 1872, Frederick's mother, Lady Lucy, agreed to settle her late husband's debts in exchange for the family’s Jamaican plantations, which Frederick transferred to her. In 1891, she transferred these estates to her younger son, Evelyn Henry Ellis, after restoring their use for pasture and livestock rather than sugar cultivation. The Jamaican estates were subsequently sold in 1912.

Frederick and his younger brother, William, identified valuable property holdings, including the Marylebone estate previously owned by the Duke of Portland, and lands in Ayrshire owned by the Duchess of Portland. These properties were expected to pass to their mother Lucy and her childless sister, Viscountess Ossington, upon the Duke’s death. This transfer occurred in 1879 following the death of the Duke of Portland, who was childless.

William Ellis married and had a son in 1875, but Frederick married Blanche Holden in 1876. The marriage produced one son, Thomas Evelyn, born in 1880. In 1893, Blanche initiated divorce proceedings, accusing Frederick of misconduct, including allegations of undue intimacy with a Parisian count and physical abuse. Frederick countered with a suit for separation, citing her cruelty, theft accusations, and threats to shoot her. Reports of their trial indicated that Frederick frequently returned home intoxicated and exhibited unhygienic habits.

Frederick’s mother died on July 29, 1899, after which he inherited additional estates, temporarily elevating his wealth status to the wealthiest peer in England. Frederick George Ellis died on November 3, 1899, at the age of 69, and was succeeded by his son, Thomas Evelyn. He is interred at Kensal Green Cemetery. Lady Blanche married Henry Lopes, 2nd Baron Ludlow, in 1903 and died in 1911.