Frederick Robinson, 2nd Marquess Of Ripon

Frederick Oliver Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon, was born on 29 January 1852 and died on 23 September 1923. He held the courtesy titles of Viscount Goderich from 1859 to 1871 and Earl de Grey from 1871 to 1909. He was a British courtier and a member of the Liberal political party.

Family and Background:

Robinson was a descendant of Oliver Cromwell. He was the only surviving child of George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, and Henrietta Anne Theodosia Vyner. His paternal grandfather was Prime Minister F. J. Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon. His maternal grandfather was Henry Vyner. He was known as Oliver during childhood. He received his education at Eton College.

Early Career:

In 1871, Robinson was part of the British commission sent to Washington, D.C., to resolve the Alabama claims, with the commission led by his father. Later that year, his father was elevated to a marquessate, and Robinson assumed the courtesy title of Earl de Grey. He was elected Member of Parliament for Ripon in 1874, serving until 1880. He also held the rank of Captain in the 27th West Riding of Yorkshire Volunteers in 1870 and served as a Justice of the Peace for North and West Ridings and the Liberty of Ripon. Additionally, he was a trustee of the Wallace Collection and supported the Royal Opera House.

Court and Honors:

Robinson, known from childhood as Oliver, was closely associated with the British royal family. He was a long-standing friend of King Edward VII. In July 1901, he was appointed Treasurer to Queen Alexandra. He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in December 1901 and was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1909, recognizing his service as Treasurer to Queen Alexandra.

Later Life and Peerage:

In 1909, upon the death of his father, Robinson succeeded to the marquessate and took his seat in the House of Lords.

Sporting Interests:

Robinson was an avid game shooter, reputed for his speed and accuracy. He reportedly shot 28 pheasants in sixty seconds during a hunting event at Sandringham House estate and holds the record for the greatest lifetime bag of birds shot, totaling approximately 556,000, including 241,000 pheasants. Anecdotal accounts suggest he was responsible for shooting four birds simultaneously in midair.

Marriage:

In 1885, Lord Ripon married Constance Gwladys Herbert, daughter of Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea, and widow of St George Lowther, 4th Earl of Lonsdale. Constance Herbert was a noted patron of the arts, known to be friends with figures such as Oscar Wilde and Nellie Melba. The marriage did not produce any children.

Ancestry and Notable Relations:

Edith Walker, grandmother of author Barbara Taylor Bradford, was a servant for the Marquess and lived in properties owned by him. She named two illegitimate children, Freda and Frederick, and biographer Piers Dudgeon suggests their father was Robinson. Edith later lived in a workhouse.

Death and Succession:

Lady Ripon died in October 1917 at age 58. Lord Ripon died on 22 September 1923 at age 71 after collapsing on Dallowgill Moor near Studley Royal Park, following a morning in which he shot 52 birds. He was buried at St Mary's Church in Studley Royal on 26 September 1923. With no heir to his titles, the marquessate and related peerages became extinct upon his death.