Barbara Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of Loudoun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Countess of Loudoun
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| Countess of Loudoun | |
| In office 24 February 1960 – 1 November 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Edith Abney-Hastings |
| Succeeded by | Michael Abney-Hastings |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 July 1919 |
| Died | 1 November 2002 (aged 83) |
| Spouses | Walter Strickland Lord Gilbert Frederick Greenwood Peter Griffiths |
| Children | 6, including Michael Abney-Hastings, 14th Earl of Loudoun |
| Parents | Edith Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun Reginald Huddleston |
| Relatives | Elizabeth Philipps, Viscountess St Davids (maternal aunt) Norrie MacLaren (nephew) |
Barbara Huddleston Abney-Hastings (born July 3, 1919, died November 1, 2002) was a Scottish noblewoman. She held the important title of the 13th Countess of Loudoun. This meant she had a special position in the House of Lords, which is part of the United Kingdom's Parliament. She inherited her title because her only brother passed away during World War II.
Who Was Barbara Abney-Hastings?
Barbara Huddleston Abney-Hastings was born on July 3, 1919. Her parents were Reginald Mowbray Chichester Huddleston and Edith Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun. Her father decided to take her mother's family name.
Barbara had one brother, Ian Huddleston Abney-Hastings. Sadly, he was killed in Italy during World War II in 1944. Because he passed away and Barbara was the oldest sister, she inherited the title of Countess of Loudoun in 1960. This meant she became a countess in her own right, not just through marriage.
Her Role in the House of Lords
As the Countess of Loudoun, Barbara became a member of the House of Lords. This is the upper house of the United Kingdom's Parliament. She served there until 1999.
In 1999, a new law changed things. It removed the right for most people who inherited their titles (called hereditary peers) to sit in the House of Lords. Lady Loudoun sat as a cross-bencher. This means she didn't belong to any specific political party. She was very interested in social justice, which means making sure everyone is treated fairly in society. She lived in a town called Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, England.
Her Family Life
Lady Loudoun was married three times during her life.
Her first marriage was to Captain Walter Strickland Lord on September 5, 1939. They had one son:
- Michael Abney-Hastings, 14th Earl of Loudoun (1942–2012)
Her second marriage was to Captain Gilbert Frederick Greenwood on November 21, 1945. They had two children:
- Lady Selina Mary Abney-Hastings (born 1946)
- Hon. Frederick James Abney-Hastings (born 1949)
Her third and final marriage was to Peter Griffiths on September 15, 1954. They had three children:
- Lady Margaret Maud Abney-Hastings (born 1956)
- Lady Mary Joy Abney-Hastings (born 1957)
- Lady Clare Louise Abney-Hastings (born 1958)
When Lady Loudoun passed away, her oldest son, Michael, inherited her title and became the 14th Earl of Loudoun.
