Edward Pelham-Clinton, 10th Duke of Newcastle facts for kids

Edward Charles Pelham-Clinton (born August 18, 1920 – died December 25, 1988) was an English expert in butterflies and moths, also known as a lepidopterist. He was also a military officer. For a short time at the end of his life, he became the Duke of Newcastle, inheriting this important title from a distant relative. This made him a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament.

What Was Edward Pelham-Clinton's Education and Career?

Edward Pelham-Clinton was the son of Guy Edward Pelham-Clinton, who was an army officer. His family had a long history, as his great-grandfather was Lord Charles Clinton, a younger son of an earlier Duke of Newcastle.

Early Life and Military Service

Edward went to Eton College, a famous school, and then studied at Trinity College, Oxford. During World War II, he served as an officer in the Royal Artillery, which is part of the British Army. He rose to the rank of Captain. He was also mentioned in dispatches, which means he was officially recognized for his brave actions during the war. Sadly, his younger brother, Alastair Pelham-Clinton, was a Royal Air Force Flying Officer who died in 1943 when he was only twenty years old.

His Work as an Entomologist

From a young age, Edward Pelham-Clinton was very interested in lepidopterology, which is the study of butterflies and moths. He specialized in entomology, the broader study of insects, while at Cambridge.

He was a true expert in this field. From 1960 to 1980, he worked as the Deputy Keeper at the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh. He also helped edit six books in a series called The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. In these books, he wrote important articles about different types of moths, including Tineidae, Choreutidae, and Glyphipterigidae. When he passed away, he was working on another group of moths called Elachistidae.

A building in Dinton Pastures Country Park was named after him by the British Entomological and Natural History Society. He had been a member of this society, showing his dedication to the study of insects.

How Did Edward Pelham-Clinton Become a Duke?

In November 1988, Edward Pelham-Clinton inherited the titles of Earl and Duke from a third cousin. This meant he became the 10th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne.

The End of a Dukedom

However, he held these titles for a very short time, only one month and 21 days. He passed away on December 25, 1988, at the age of 68. He was not married and had no children. Because there were no other direct male relatives left from the second Duke's family line, the title of Duke of Newcastle became extinct, meaning it ended.

But another title, the peerage of Earl of Lincoln, was passed on to a very distant relative who lived in Australia. Edward Pelham-Clinton left behind an estate valued at over £2.2 million. His home was in Furzeleigh House, Axminster.