Background
He was the son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway, and Christabel Macnaghten. As a young man, he became a director of John Brown & Company, where his father was chairman.
He was the son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway, and Christabel Macnaghten. As a young man, he became a director of John Brown & Company, where his father was chairman.
He was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford, and became a barrister of the Middle Temple.
Due to this connection, he took part in the secret, unofficial meeting of British businessmen with Hermann Göring arranged by Birger Dahlerus in August 1939 as a last-ditch effort to forestall war. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Artillery, becoming a second lieutenant. After the war, he took a more active role in the family corporations, preparing to succeed his father.
He was also a director of Westland Aircraft from 1947 to 1985.
He was made a Justice of the Peace for Denbighshire in 1946, and High Sheriff of Denbighshire in 1950. In 1953, he succeeded his father in the barony, the chairmanship of John Brown and English China Clays, and various other industrial interests.
He continued in these chairmanships until 1986 and 1984, respectively. Despite his corporate responsibilities, Lord Aberconway took a keen interest in horticulture.
Besides maintaining the family"s Bodnant Garden, he was the President of the Royal Horticultural Society from 1961 to 1983 and oversaw the management of the Chelsea Flower Show.
I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that this is the finest Chelsea Flower Show ever
Despite inheriting a seat in the House of Lords, he rarely attended. Throughout his life, he enjoyed writing pithy, memorable and topical letters to The Times. Honorary Julia Harriet McLaren (b 22 September 1942), married Captain
Charles Ridley and has issue
Doctor Honorary
Caroline Mary McLaren (b 24 October 1944), married Raimund Sargent and has issue
Henry Charles McLaren, 4th Baron Aberconway (b 1948)
They had one son:
Honorary Michael Duncan McLaren, Queen's Counsel (b 29 November 1958), married Caroline Stacey and has issue.
Present manager of Bodnant Garden.