Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl Of Lathom

Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom (born 12 December 1837; died 19 November 1898), was a British Conservative politician. He was known as The Lord Skelmersdale from 1853 until 1880, when he was elevated to the earldom. Throughout his political career, he was a member of every Conservative administration between 1866 and 1898 and served three terms as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under Prime Minister Lord Salisbury.

Early Life and Family Background

Bootle-Wilbraham was born at Blythe Hall in Lathom, Lancashire. His father was Hon. Richard Bootle-Wilbraham, a Member of Parliament, and his mother was Jessy, daughter of Sir Richard Brooke, 6th Baronet of Norton. His paternal grandfather was Edward Bootle-Wilbraham. His father died when Edward was seven years old, after which he was raised by his grandparents at Lathom House, a nearby estate.

Education and Early Involvement

He received his education at Eton College and later attended Christ Church, Oxford. During his time at Oxford, he joined the Apollo University Lodge No. 357 and was an active Freemason. On 9 November 1872, he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 11th (1st Preston) Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps.

Political Career

In 1853, Bootle-Wilbraham succeeded his grandfather as the second Baron Skelmersdale, which granted him a seat in the House of Lords upon reaching the age of 21 in 1858. He served as a Lord-in-waiting from 1866 to 1868, under the Earl of Derby and Benjamin Disraeli. In 1870, he became the Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords.

From 1874 to 1880, he served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard under Disraeli's administration and was sworn into the Privy Council in 1874. In 1880, he was elevated to the rank of Earl of Lathom, in the County Palatine of Lancaster.

His service under Lord Salisbury included three terms as Lord Chamberlain of the Household (1885–1886, 1886–1892, and 1895–1898). In 1892, he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

Personal Life

On 16 August 1860, Lord Lathom married Lady Alice Villiers, daughter of George Villiers and Lady Katharine Barham. Lady Katharine was a widow of John Joseph Barham and the eldest daughter of James Grimston. The marriage produced several children:

- Lady Alice Maud Bootle-Wilbraham, O.B.E. (born 1861)

- Constance Adela (born 16 July 1862, died 10 November 1864 at Lathom House)

- Lady Florence Mary Bootle-Wilbraham (born 1863, died 1944), who married the Right Reverend Lord William Cecil, Bishop of Exeter

- Edward George Bootle-Wilbraham, 2nd Earl of Lathom (1864–1910), who married Lady Wilma Pleydell-Bouverie in 1889

- Lady Bertha Mabel Bootle-Wilbraham (born 1867), married in 1903 to Major Arthur Frederick Dawkins; they had a daughter, Edith

- Hon. Villiers Richard Bootle-Wilbraham (born circa 1867), married Violet Inez de Romero in 1900

- Randle Arthur Brooke Bootle-Wilbraham (born 1868, died 1899 in Orme, France)

- Lady Edith Cecil (baptized January 1870, died 1899)

- Hon. Reginald Francis Bootle-Wilbraham (born circa 1875), married Lilian Mary Holt in 1903

Death and Succession

Lady Alice Villiers, Lady Lathom, died in a carriage accident in November 1897 at age 56. Lord Lathom survived her by approximately one year, dying in November 1898 at age 60. His eldest son, Edward, succeeded to his titles as Lord Skelmersdale and later as the 2nd Earl of Lathom.