John Crichton-Stuart, 6th Marquess of Bute facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
The Marquess of Bute
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 February 1933 Mayfair, London, England |
| Died | 21 July 1993 (aged 60) Mount Stuart House |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Spouses |
Beatrice Weld-Forester
(m. 1955; div. 1977)Jennifer Home-Rigg
(m. 1978) |
| Children | Lady Sophia Bain Lady Caroline Crichton-Stuart John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute Lord Anthony Crichton-Stuart |
| Parents | John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute Lady Eileen Forbes |
| Alma mater | Ampleforth College Trinity College, Cambridge |
John Crichton-Stuart, the 6th Marquess of Bute, was a Scottish nobleman who lived from 1933 to 1993. He was also known as Lord Bute or simply John Bute. He was famous for being a generous supporter of the arts and a helper of many good causes.
Contents
Life and Early Years
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John Crichton-Stuart was born in London on February 27, 1933. He was the older twin brother of David. His father was the 5th Marquess of Bute, and his mother was Lady Eileen Forbes.
Before his grandfather passed away in 1947, John was known as Lord Cardiff. After that, he became the Earl of Dumfries. He went to Ampleforth College and then served in the Scots Guards, a famous army regiment. Later, he studied history at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
A Private Person and His Home
Lord Bute was a very private person. He did not like being in the public eye. He chose not to take part in the activities of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. He felt it was not the right place for him.
After he married for the second time, he worked hard to restore Mount Stuart House. This beautiful historic home is located on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
Inheritance and Contributions
When his father died in 1956, John inherited many important titles. He also received large estates in Wales, England, and Scotland. These included six castles and a valuable collection of European paintings.
To help pay for taxes on the inheritance, he sold some land in Cardiff to the city. He also gave some historic houses in Edinburgh to the National Trust for Scotland. One of these houses, Bute House, became the official residence for the Secretary of State for Scotland. Another, The Georgian House, is now open to the public.
Supporting Scottish Heritage
Lord Bute was very involved in protecting Scotland's history and culture. From 1983 to 1988, he was the Chairman of the Historic Buildings Council. This group helped look after important old buildings in Scotland.
He also served as the Lord Lieutenant for Bute and later for Argyll and Bute. A Lord Lieutenant is the King's personal representative in a county.
John Bute also owned Bute Fabrics, a major employer on the Isle of Bute. He helped the company focus on creating modern designer fabrics and furniture.
He was a trustee for the National Trust for Scotland for 25 years. During this time, the number of members grew five times larger! From 1985, he was also the Chairman of the Trustees for the National Museums of Scotland. He helped get money for a new part of the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh. This new part is now known as the Museum of Scotland. He made sure the project went ahead, even when there was some disagreement. He saw the foundation stone laid in April 1993, just before he passed away.
Lord Bute died from cancer at Mount Stuart House on July 21, 1993.
Family Life
On April 19, 1955, John Crichton-Stuart married Beatrice Nicola Grace Weld-Forester. They had four children together before they divorced in 1977:
- Lady Sophia Ann Crichton-Stuart (born 1956)
- Lady Caroline Eileen Crichton-Stuart (1957–1984)
- John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (1958–2021). He was also a famous racing driver known as Johnny Dumfries. He even raced in Formula One.
- Lord Anthony Crichton-Stuart (born 1961)
In 1978, he married Jennifer Home-Rigg. Jennifer, the Marchioness of Bute, is a supporter of the Royal Caledonian Ball, a special Scottish event.
Key Roles and Contributions
John Crichton-Stuart held many important positions throughout his life, showing his dedication to public service and Scottish heritage:
- Convener of Buteshire County Council (1967–1970)
- Chairman of the Scottish Committee of the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases (1966–1993)
- Chairman of the Museums Advisory Board (Scotland) (1984–1985)
- Trustee for the National Galleries of Scotland (1980–1987)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1992)
