Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne facts for kids
Claude George Bowes-Lyon, the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was an important British nobleman and landowner. He was born on March 14, 1855, and passed away on November 7, 1944. For many years, he was known as Lord Glamis. He is most famous for being the father of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II.
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
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The Earl in 1923
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| Born | Claude George Bowes-Lyon 14 March 1855 Belgravia, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 7 November 1944 (aged 89) Glamis, Angus, Scotland |
| Buried | Glamis Castle |
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| Father | Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne |
| Mother | Frances Dora Smith |
Life and Family
Claude George Bowes-Lyon was born in London. His parents were Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Frances Smith. His younger brother, Patrick, was a tennis player who won a doubles championship at Wimbledon in 1887.
Claude went to Eton College, a famous school. In 1876, he joined the 2nd Life Guards, a special army unit. He served there for six years. He was also an active member of the Territorial Army, which is a part-time military force. He held the special title of honorary colonel for a battalion of the Black Watch regiment.
When his father passed away in 1904, Claude became the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. He inherited many large properties in Scotland and England. These included famous places like Glamis Castle and St Paul's Walden Bury. He also became the Lord Lieutenant of Angus, which meant he was the King's representative in that area of Scotland. He gave up this role when his daughter became queen.
The Earl was very interested in forestry, which is the science of planting and managing forests. He was one of the first people in Britain to grow larch trees from seeds. He was known for being very kind to the people who lived and worked on his lands. People often described him as a simple and down-to-earth man. He would often wear an old raincoat tied with string. He enjoyed working on his own land and doing physical labor. Visitors sometimes thought he was a regular worker, not an Earl! He even made his own cocoa for breakfast.
In April 1923, his youngest daughter, Elizabeth, married Prince Albert, Duke of York. Prince Albert was the second son of King George V. To celebrate this marriage, Lord Strathmore was given a special honor called the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. His granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II), was born at his home in London in 1926.
In 1928, he received another important honor, becoming a Knight of the Thistle.
In 1936, his son-in-law, Prince Albert, became King George VI. As the father of the new queen, he received an even higher honor. He was made a Knight of the Garter. He was also given a new title, the 1st Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, in the United Kingdom. This was important because Scottish noble titles didn't automatically allow him to sit in the House of Lords (a part of the British Parliament). His new UK title allowed him to do so. At the coronation of his daughter and son-in-law in 1937, the Earl and Countess sat in a special royal box. They were with Queen Mary and their granddaughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
Later in his life, the Earl became very deaf. He passed away from bronchitis on November 7, 1944, at the age of 89, at Glamis Castle. His wife, Lady Strathmore, had passed away in 1938. His son, Patrick, became the next Earl.
Marriage and Children
Claude George Bowes-Lyon married Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck on July 16, 1881. They had ten children together. It is said that the Earl would politely part his mustache before kissing his children.
| Name | Birth | Death | Age | Notes |
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| The Hon. Violet Hyacinth Bowes-Lyon | 17 April 1882 | 17 October 1893 | 11 years | She died from diphtheria. |
| Lady Mary Frances Bowes-Lyon | 30 August 1883 | 8 February 1961 | 77 years | She married Sidney Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone in 1910. |
| Patrick Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis | 22 September 1884 | 25 May 1949 | 64 years | He became the 15th Earl in 1944. |
| Lieutenant The Hon. John Bowes-Lyon | 1 April 1886 | 7 February 1930 | 43 years | Known as Jock. |
| The Hon. Alexander Francis Bowes-Lyon | 14 April 1887 | 19 October 1911 | 24 years | Known as Alec, he died in his sleep. |
| Captain The Hon. Fergus Bowes-Lyon | 18 April 1889 | 27 September 1915 | 26 years | He was killed in a battle during World War I. |
| Lady Rose Constance Bowes-Lyon | 6 May 1890 | 17 November 1967 | 77 years | She married William Leveson-Gower, 4th Earl Granville in 1916. |
| Lieutenant-Colonel The Hon. Michael Claude Hamilton Bowes-Lyon | 1 October 1893 | 1 May 1953 | 59 years | Known as Mickie, he was a prisoner of war during World War I. |
| Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon | 4 August 1900 | 30 March 2002 | 101 years | She married the Duke of York, who became King George VI. She was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II. |
| The Hon. Sir David Bowes-Lyon | 2 May 1902 | 13 September 1961 | 59 years |
Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family or a noble title. The coat of arms for the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne is quite famous. It shows symbols that sound like parts of their family name, Bowes-Lyon. This is called "canting arms." The design features bows and lions, which cleverly represent "Bowes" and "Lyon."
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