Ian Ogilvie-Grant, 13th Earl of Seafield facts for kids

Ian Derek Francis Ogilvie-Grant, 13th Earl of Seafield (born 20 March 1939) is a British nobleman and a large landowner. He holds the title of Earl of Seafield, which is a very old Scottish noble rank.

Early Life and Family History

Ian Seafield was born in Chelsea, England, on March 20, 1939. His parents were Derek Herbert Studley-Herbert and Nina Caroline Ogilvie-Grant. His mother was the 12th Countess of Seafield, meaning she held the noble title before him.

He went to school at Eton College, a famous school in England. Before he became the Earl, he was known by a special name called Viscount Reidhaven. This was a "courtesy title," which means it's a traditional title used for the eldest son of an Earl. In 1969, he inherited the title of Earl of Seafield from his mother. This title is part of the Scottish peerage, a system of noble ranks in Scotland.

Land and Estates

As the head of the Seafield family, Ian Seafield manages a very large estate in Scotland. This estate covers about 84,500 acres, which makes him one of the biggest landowners in Scotland.

The main family home is Cullen House. Another important family property, Castle Grant, was sold in 1983.

Role in Parliament

Ian Seafield was a member of the House of Lords from 1969 until 1999. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament. For many years, people who inherited noble titles, like Earls, could automatically be members of the House of Lords. These members were called "hereditary peers."

However, in 1999, new rules changed this system. Most hereditary peers, including Lord Seafield, were no longer able to be members of the House of Lords just because of their inherited title. He was connected with the Conservative Party, one of the main political parties in the UK.

Lord Seafield also supported the "No" campaign during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. This was a vote where people in Scotland decided if they wanted to become an independent country or stay part of the United Kingdom. The "No" campaign wanted Scotland to remain in the UK.

Family Life

On October 5, 1960, Ian Seafield married Mary Dawn Mackenzie Illingworth at the Savoy Chapel. They had two sons:

• James Andrew Ogilvie-Grant, Viscount Reidhaven (born 30 November 1963); he is the next person in line to inherit the Earl of Seafield title.
• Hon. Alexander Derek Henry Ogilvie-Grant (born 26 January 1966); he married Lucy Clare Potts in 1995. They have three sons:
  • John Francis Henry Ogilvie-Grant (born 2000)
  • Ivan James Valentine Ogilvie-Grant (born 2003)
  • (James) Aeneas Ogilvie-Grant (born 2006)

Lord Seafield and Mary Dawn Mackenzie Illingworth separated in 1969 and divorced in 1971. Soon after, he married Leila Refaat (born 1944), who is from Cairo.