Robert Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres
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| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |
| In office 5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Edward Heath |
| Preceded by | Joseph Godber |
| Succeeded by | David Ennals |
| Minister of State for Defence | |
| In office 23 June 1970 – 5 November 1972 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Edward Heath |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Ian Gilmour |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Hereditary peerage 13 December 1975 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 28th Earl of Crawford and Balcarres |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Life peerage 24 January 1975 – 28 November 2019 |
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| Member of Parliament for Welwyn Hatfield |
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| In office 28 February 1974 – 20 September 1974 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Helene Hayman |
| Member of Parliament for Hertford |
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| In office 26 May 1955 – 8 February 1974 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Derek Walker-Smith |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Alexander Lindsay
5 March 1927 |
| Died | 18 March 2023 (aged 96) Balcarres House, Fife, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Ruth Meyer-Bechtler
(m. 1949; died 2021) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent |
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| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Robert Alexander Lindsay (born March 5, 1927 – died March 18, 2023) was an important Scottish politician. He held several titles, including the 29th Earl of Crawford and 12th Earl of Balcarres. From 1940 to 1975, he was known as Lord Balniel.
Robert Lindsay was a member of the Conservative Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1955 to 1974. He was also the chief of Clan Lindsay, a historic Scottish family. From 1975 to 2019, he was known as the Premier Earl of Scotland, which means he was the highest-ranking Earl in Scotland.
After leaving the House of Commons, he became a life peer. This meant he could join the House of Lords, another part of the UK Parliament. He was the longest-serving former MP from the 1955 election.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Alexander Lindsay was born on March 5, 1927. His father was the 28th Earl of Crawford. Robert went to Eton College, a famous school, and then to Trinity College, Cambridge, a well-known university.
From 1945 to 1948, he served in the Grenadier Guards, a part of the British Army. After his military service, he worked at the British Embassy in Paris for a short time. He then joined the Conservative Research Department, helping with political research.
His Political Journey
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1955, at the age of 28, Robert Lindsay was elected as an MP for the Hertford area. He was a member of the Conservative Party. For a few years, he worked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary, helping a senior politician named Henry Brooke.
From 1959 to 1965, he was the president of a group called the Rural District Councils Association. He also led the National Association for Mental Health from 1963 to 1970.
Roles in Government
When the Conservative Party was not in power, Robert Lindsay spoke for them on foreign affairs. Later, he joined the Shadow Cabinet, which is a group of senior opposition politicians who would take on government roles if their party won. He was their spokesperson on social services.
When the Conservatives won the 1970 election, he became a government minister. He served as the Minister of State for Defence. Later, in 1972, he became the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. This role involved working on international relations.
Moving to the House of Lords
In 1974, Robert Lindsay changed the area he represented in Parliament to Welwyn and Hatfield. He won that election, but lost in the next one later that year.
After leaving the House of Commons, he was given a life peerage. This meant he became Baron Balniel and could sit in the House of Lords for the rest of his life. In December 1975, he also inherited the title of Earl of Crawford. He continued to serve in the House of Lords until he retired in 2019.
Important Appointments
Robert Lindsay held several other important positions. From 1980 to 1985, he was the First Crown Estate Commissioner. This role involved managing lands and properties owned by the British monarch.
He also served as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1992 until her death in 2002. This was a senior role in the Queen Mother's household. For his service, he received a special honour called the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 2002.
Family Life
Robert Lindsay married Ruth Beatrice Meyer-Bechtler in 1949. They were married for over 70 years until Ruth passed away in 2021. They had four children:
- Lady Bettina Mary Lindsay (born 1950)
- Lady Iona Sina Lindsay (born 1957)
- Anthony Robert Lindsay, who became the 30th Earl of Crawford (born 1958)
- Hon Alexander Walter Lindsay (born 1961)
Lord Crawford passed away at Balcarres House on March 18, 2023, at the age of 96. His eldest son, Anthony, inherited his titles.
Honours and Awards
Robert Lindsay received several special honours during his life:
- Knight of the Thistle in 1996. This is a very high honour in Scotland.
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 2002.
- He became a Privy Counsellor in 1972. This is a group of senior advisors to the monarch.
- He was appointed a Deputy lieutenant of Fife in 1976.
Coat of Arms
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See Also
