John Bowes-Lyon

John Herbert Bowes-Lyon was born on 1 April 1886, as the second son of the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and the Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. He was a member of the British aristocracy and was known to have a sibling who later became Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, specifically Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. He was also the uncle of Queen Elizabeth II, being her maternal uncle; however, he died during her childhood, prior to the birth of her sister, Princess Margaret.

For his education, Bowes-Lyon attended Eton College and later studied at New College, Oxford. During his time at Oxford, he participated in sports as a first-class cricketer, playing as a fast-medium bowler for the university cricket team in three matches across the years 1906 and 1907.

He married Fenella Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis on 29 September 1914. Fenella was born on 19 August 1889 and was the daughter of Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, the 21st Baron Clinton. The marriage resulted in the birth of five daughters:

- Patricia Bowes-Lyon (6 July 1916 – 18 June 1917),

- Anne Ferelith Fenella Bowes-Lyon (4 December 1917 – 26 September 1980),

- Lady Elizabeth Shakerley, née Elizabeth Georgiana Anson,

- Nerissa Jane Irene Bowes-Lyon (18 February 1919 – 22 January 1986),

- Katherine Juliet Bowes-Lyon (4 July 1926 – 23 February 2014).

Anne Bowes-Lyon married Lt.-Col. Thomas William Arnold Anson, Viscount Anson, on 28 April 1938, with whom she had two children before their divorce in 1948. She subsequently married Prince Georg of Denmark in 1950. Katherine Bowes-Lyon had no children.

Before World War I, Bowes-Lyon was employed as a stockbroker in the City of London, working for the firm Rowe and Pitman. In 1915, he was enlisted with the Black Watch regiment. During military service, he was involved in an incident where he accidentally shot himself in the left forefinger just prior to the Battle of Aubers Ridge; the finger was amputated the following day. While receiving medical treatment in the UK, Bowes-Lyon disclosed that he had experienced a nervous breakdown in 1912 and suffered from neurasthenia. Throughout 1915 and 1916, he held positions at the Ministry of Munitions and within the Territorial Army. After the war, he faced disciplinary issues for missing parade duties during demobilization but later returned to his career in finance. On 19 June 1920, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Forfarshire.

John Bowes-Lyon died of pneumonia at Glamis Castle, the family estate, shortly after midnight on 7 February 1930, at the age of 43. His death left his wife widowed and responsible for their four surviving children, two of whom, Nerissa and Katherine, were severely mentally disabled. He was interred at St Paul's Walden Bury on 10 February 1930.

His widow, Fenella Trefusis, remained socially active and was notably a guest at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Fenella lived until 19 July 1966, reaching the age of 76.