David Beatty, 2nd Earl Beatty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl Beatty
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| Under-Secretary of State for Air | |
| In office 1945–1945 |
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| Preceded by | Quintin Hogg |
| Succeeded by | John Strachey |
| Member of Parliament for Peckham | |
| In office 27 October 1931 – 11 March 1936 |
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| Preceded by | John Beckett |
| Succeeded by | Lewis Silkin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Field Beatty
22 February 1905 |
| Died | 10 June 1972 (aged 67) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
Dorothy Rice Power
(m. 1937; div. 1945)Dorothy Rita Furey
(m. 1946; div. 1950)Adelle Dillingham
(m. 1951; div. 1958)Diane Kirk Blundell
(m. 1959) |
| Relations | Peter Beatty (brother) Ronald Tree (half-brother) Marshall Field (grandfather) |
| Parents | David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty Ethel Field Beatty |
| Alma mater | Royal Naval College, Osborne Britannia Royal Naval College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1918–1945 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Commands | HMS Boreas (1941) HMS Buxton (1940–41) HMS Puffin (1940) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
David Field Beatty, 2nd Earl Beatty, also known as Viscount Borodale, was a British naval officer and politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He served in the Royal Navy and held important government roles.
Early Life and Education
David Field Beatty was born on February 22, 1905. His father was David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, a famous admiral. His mother was Ethel Beatty. David had a younger brother, Peter. He also had an older half-brother, Ronald Tree, who became a politician.
His grandfather on his mother's side was Marshall Field, a well-known American businessman.
David went to naval colleges to study. He attended the Royal Naval College, Osborne and the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. In 1919, when his father became an Earl, David received the special title of Viscount Borodale.
David Beatty began his naval career in 1919 as a midshipman. This is a junior officer rank in the navy. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1928.
Later, he also served in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, which was part of the Territorial Army. He reached the rank of lieutenant there in 1933.
During the Second World War, David Beatty was a lieutenant commander in the navy. He was recognized for his bravery and received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1942. This award is given for courage during battle.
Political Career
David Beatty also had a career in politics. From 1931 to 1936, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Peckham. His half-brother, Ronald Tree, was also an MP at the same time.
While in Parliament, David Beatty worked as a special assistant to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty. This role helped him learn more about government work. In 1936, his father passed away. David then became the 2nd Earl Beatty and moved to the House of Lords. This is another part of the British Parliament.
In 1937, he also served on the London County Council. This council helped manage the city of London. After the Second World War in 1945, he became the Under-Secretary of State for Air. This meant he helped manage matters related to the Royal Air Force.
Family Life
David Field Beatty was married four times during his life. He had children from some of these marriages.
His first marriage was to Dorothy Carlotta Power Sands in 1937. They were married for eight years.
In 1946, he married Dorothy Rita Furey Bragg. They had one son together:
- David Beatty, who later became the 3rd Earl Beatty.
His third wife was Adelle Dillingham O'Connor. They had one daughter:
- Lady Diana Beatty.
His fourth marriage was to Diane Kirk Blundell in 1959. They remained married until his death. With Diane, he had a son and a daughter:
- Hon. Nicholas Duncan Beatty
- Lady Miranda Katherine Beatty
Lord Beatty passed away on June 10, 1972. His eldest son, David, then became the 3rd Earl Beatty.
