John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
The Marquess of Bute
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| Born |
John Colum Crichton-Stuart
26 April 1958 Rothesay, Buteshire, now Argyll and Bute, Scotland
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| Died | 22 March 2021 (aged 62) |
| Other names | Johnny Dumfries John Bute |
| Education | Ampleforth College |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Spouse(s) |
Carolyn Waddell
(m. 1984; div. 1993)Serena Solitaire Wendell
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 4, including: John Bryson Crichton-Stuart, 8th Marquess of Bute |
| Parent(s) | John Crichton-Stuart, 6th Marquess of Bute Beatrice Weld-Forester |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1986 |
| Teams | Lotus |
| Entries | 16 (15 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 3 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1986 Australian Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1987 – 1991 |
| Teams | Kouros Racing Silk Cut Jaguar/TWR Toyota Team Tom's Courage Compétition |
| Best finish | 1st (1988) |
| Class wins | 1 (1988) |
John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (born 26 April 1958 – died 22 March 2021) was a Scottish nobleman and a talented racing driver. He was best known for winning the famous 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Before he inherited his family title in 1993, he was known as Earl of Dumfries. In the racing world, he was often called Johnny Dumfries. Later in life, he preferred to be known simply as John Bute. His family's historic home is Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. He studied at Ampleforth College but left early to follow his dream of becoming a racing driver.
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Early life and family
John Bute was born in Rothesay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. He came from one of Scotland's oldest and most important families. His parents were Beatrice Nicola Grace Weld-Forester and John Crichton-Stuart, 6th Marquess of Bute. He was also a descendant of the 18th-century Prime Minister, the 3rd Earl of Bute.
He had two older sisters, Sophia and Caroline. Caroline sadly passed away in a car accident in 1984. He also had a younger brother named Anthony. The children grew up at the grand Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. John Bute later remembered how easy it was to find secret hiding spots in the huge house.
As the heir to a large family fortune, young John attended Ampleforth College. However, he left school at age sixteen to focus on his passion for motor racing.
Racing career highlights
In 1984, John Bute, then known as Johnny Dumfries, became a rising star in the F3 racing world. He won 14 races and completely dominated the British Formula 3 Championship. He also finished second in the European Formula Three Championship that year.
In 1985, he moved up to the International Formula 3000 Championship. This was a challenging season for him.
His big break into Formula One came in 1986 when he joined the JPS Team Lotus. He raced in 15 Grand Prix events for Lotus, which used powerful turbocharged Renault engines. He earned 3 championship points during the season. For most of 1986, he was a strong midfield driver. He was replaced in 1987 when Lotus changed engine suppliers.
The biggest win of his racing career happened in 1988. John Bute won the famous Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race. He drove a Jaguar XJR-9 for the Silk Cut Jaguar Team. His teammates were Jan Lammers from the Netherlands and Andy Wallace from England.
He also took part in a 1-hour endurance race in the 1988 British Touring Car Championship. He finished third in that race.
John Bute passed away from cancer in March 2021.
Family and homes
John Bute lived with his family in London. He also spent time at his family's historic home, Mount Stuart House. This grand estate is located about 5 miles south of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.
In 2007, another family country house, Dumfries House in Cumnock, Ayrshire, was sold. It was bought by the nation to preserve its history and art.
Marriages and children
John Bute was married twice and had four children.
In 1984, he married Carolyn E. R. Margaret "Freddy" Waddell. They later divorced in 1993. They had three children together:
- Lady Caroline Crichton-Stuart (born 26 September 1984)
- Lady Cathleen Crichton-Stuart (born 14 September 1986)
- John Bryson Crichton-Stuart, who became the 8th Marquess of Bute (born 21 December 1989)
In February 1999, he married his second wife, fashion designer Serena Solitaire Wendell, on the Isle of Bute. They had one child:
- Lady Lola Affrica Crichton-Stuart (born 23 June 1999)
Images for kids
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John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute
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The coronet of a British Marquess
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The coat of arms of the Marquess of Bute
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Dumfries para niños
