John Baillie-Hamilton, 13th Earl of Haddington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Haddington
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 17 April 1986 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 12th Earl of Haddington |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John George Baillie-Hamilton
21 December 1941 |
| Died | 5 July 2016 (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Photographer, politician and peer |
John George Baillie-Hamilton (born December 21, 1941 – died July 5, 2016) was a fascinating person. He was known as the 13th Earl of Haddington. He was a British politician, a talented photographer, and even explored mysteries like the paranormal!
Contents
Who Was John Baillie-Hamilton?
John George Baillie-Hamilton was a British peer. A peer is a member of the nobility. He also served as a politician for the Conservative Party. Beyond politics, he was a skilled photographer. He was also very interested in exploring the paranormal, which means things that are beyond normal scientific understanding.
Early Life and Interests
John Baillie-Hamilton was born in December 1941. His father was George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington. His mother was Sarah Cook, who passed away in 1995. He was their only son.
He went to several schools and colleges. These included Ampleforth College, Trinity College, Dublin, and the Royal Agricultural College.
John had many different interests and jobs. He worked as a photographer. He even published his own magazine called The Bird Table. He also worked with the Lebanese Tourist Board. This group helps promote tourism in Lebanon. He also worked with the Centre for Crop Circle Studies. This group studies mysterious patterns found in fields. In 1998, he started a charity called Save Our Songbirds. This organization is now known as Songbird Survival. It works to protect songbirds.
Becoming an Earl and Politician
In 1986, John's father passed away. At 44 years old, John inherited the title of Earl of Haddington. This meant he became the 13th Earl.
When he became an Earl, he also gained a special seat. This seat was in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is part of the British Parliament. He served there until 1999.
In 1999, a new law was passed called the House of Lords Act 1999. This law changed how members were chosen. Many hereditary peers, like John, lost their automatic seats. He tried to get an elected seat, but he was not chosen.
Family Life
John Baillie-Hamilton lived at Mellerstain House. This is a large estate located in Berwickshire, Scotland.
He was married twice. His first marriage was to Prudence Elizabeth Hayles in 1975. They later divorced in 1981. He married again in 1984 to Jane Heyworth.
John and Jane had three children together:
- George Edmund Baldred Baillie-Hamilton (born in 1985). He is now the 14th Earl of Haddington.
- Lady Susan Moyra Baillie-Hamilton (born in 1988).
- Lady Isobel Joan Baillie-Hamilton (born in 1990).
