Cecil Howard, 6th Earl of Wicklow facts for kids
Cecil Ralph Howard (born April 26, 1842 – died July 24, 1891) was an important person in both the British Army and the House of Lords in Ireland. He was part of a noble family and became the 6th Earl of Wicklow.
Who Was Cecil Howard?
Cecil Ralph Howard was born into a well-known Anglo-Irish family. His father, Francis Howard, was a vicar, which is a type of priest. Cecil's grandfather was the 3rd Earl of Wicklow, making him part of a noble family.
Life in the Army
In 1864, when he was 22, Cecil joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps as an Ensign, which is a junior officer rank. He worked hard and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1867 and then to Captain in 1876.
After his older brother became the Earl, Cecil was given a special title in 1870. This meant he was officially recognized as the younger son of an Earl. He left the regular army in 1877. However, he later joined the Antrim Artillery Militia in 1879 as a Captain and was later promoted to Major.
Becoming an Earl
On June 20, 1881, Cecil Ralph Howard became the 6th Earl of Wicklow. This happened after his brother, Charles Howard, passed away. As an Earl, he was a peer, which means he held a special noble title.
In 1888, he was chosen to be an Irish representative peer. This meant he could represent Ireland in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He took his seat there on January 23, 1888.
Family Life
Cecil Ralph Howard was married two times. His first wife was Francesca Maria Chamberlayne, whom he married on March 23, 1876. They had one son together. Sadly, Francesca passed away on December 30, 1877.
He married his second wife, Fanny Catherine Wingfield, on June 2, 1880. They had two more sons:
- Cecil Mervyn Malcolm (born November 18, 1881 – died April 16, 1882)
- Hugh Melville (born March 28, 1883 – died February 17, 1919)
His Legacy
The 6th Earl of Wicklow passed away on July 24, 1891. His eldest son from his first marriage, Ralph Howard, became the 7th Earl of Wicklow. Ralph was born on December 24, 1877, and lived until October 11, 1946.
