Cecil Stafford-King-Harman facts for kids

Sir Cecil William Francis Stafford-King-Harman (born 6 December 1895, died 1987) was an important figure in Ireland. He was a landowner, meaning he owned a lot of property, and he was also a soldier. He held the title of a Baronet, which is a special inherited title in the British system, similar to a knight but passed down through the family.

Early Life and Family

Cecil was born as Cecil Stafford. His father was Sir Thomas Stafford, who was the first Baronet in their family. His mother was Frances Agnes, whose maiden name was King-Harman. In 1933, Cecil decided to add his mother's family name, King-Harman, to his own. This is why his full name became Stafford-King-Harman.

Cecil had an older brother named Edward Charles Stafford King Harman. Sadly, his brother was killed during the First World War, a major global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918.

Education and Military Service

Cecil went to Oxford University, a very famous university in England. He graduated in 1922 with a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in agriculture, which means he studied farming and land management.

He married Sarah Beatrice Acland. They had a son named Thomas Edward Stafford-King-Harman, who was born in 1921. Tragically, their son was killed in 1944 during the Normandy Campaign, a very important part of the Second World War.

Cecil and Sarah also had two daughters. One was Joan Stafford-King-Harman, who later became an agent for MI6, a British intelligence agency. Their other daughter, Ann Stafford King-Harman, was an artist.

Cecil himself served as a soldier. He was a captain in the yeomanry, which was a type of volunteer cavalry force. During the Second World War, he served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps from 1940 to 1943. He reached the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel but had to leave his command due to poor health. He was then given the honorary rank of major.

Public Life and Land Ownership

When his father passed away in 1935, Cecil inherited the title of Baronet. This meant he became the 2nd Baronet in his family. When Cecil died in 1987, the baronetcy ended because there were no more direct male heirs to pass it on to.

Cecil was also involved in other important roles. In 1937, he followed in his father's footsteps and became a steward of the Irish Turf Club. This club is very important for horse racing in Ireland. He was also a member of the Church of Ireland and served as a lay member (a non-clergy member) of the church's local governing body for the area of Kilmore, Elphin, and Ardagh.

In 1956, after the death of another important figure, Sir John Keane, Cecil was chosen by Seán T. O'Kelly, who was the President of Ireland at the time, to join the Council of State. This council advises the President of Ireland on important matters.

The Rockingham Estate

The family's main property was called the Rockingham Estate. It was located in the northern part of County Roscommon in Ireland. The estate included a large house.

In September 1957, a terrible fire broke out at the Rockingham house. Cecil Stafford-King-Harman was away at a horse race at Doncaster Racecourse when it happened. The fire badly damaged the house, leaving it gutted.

Cecil did not have enough money to rebuild the house. So, in 1959, he decided to sell the remaining part of the estate, which was about 2,400 acres of land. It was sold at an auction. The Land Commission, an Irish government body, bought the land. Today, much of this land is part of the beautiful Lough Key Forest Park, a popular place for people to visit and enjoy nature.