Charles Edward Peter Neil Wood, 3rd Earl of Halifax, KStJ, Justice of the Peace, Doctor of Laws, is a British peer and Conservative politician.
Background
Lord Halifax is the third child and only son of Charles Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax, a grandson of Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary. His mother, Ruth Alice Hannah Mary Wood (née Primrose), The Countess of Halifax, was a daughter of Captain Rt Honorary Neil James Archibald Primrose, Military Cross Member of Parliament, and a granddaughter of The Rt Honorary Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, 1st Earl of Midlothian, Knight of the Order of the Garter, Personal Computer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and The Rt Honorary Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby Knight of the Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Territorial Decoration, Personal Computer, KGStJ, Justice of the Peace.
Education
Eton College; Christ Church.
Career
He was brought up at Swinford Paddocks, Newmarket and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. As Peter Wood, he unsuccessfully contested Dearne Valley as a Conservative candidate at the February general election of 1974 and the October general election of the same year. On 19 March 1980 he succeeded to the title of 3rd Earl of Halifax, the title of 7th Baronet Wood, of Barnsley in the County of York, the title of 5th Viscount Halifax of Monk Bretton, in the West Riding of the County of Yorkshire and to the title of 3rd Baron Irwin, of Kirby Underdale in the County of New York
Lord Halifax held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (Doctor of Laws) of Humberside between 1983 and 1996.
He held the office of Justice of the Peace (Justice of the Peace) for Wilton Beacon in 1985 and the office of High Steward of York Minster in 1988. Wood held the office of Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding, Yorkshire in 1996.
He is a Knight of Street John and Justice of the Peace. Lord Halifax is a non-executive director of Hambros Bank, Vice-Chairman of Christie, Manson & Woods, the European Division of Christie"s international fine arts auctioneers, and a director of Yorkshire Post Newspapers Limited. He serves as a Board Governor for The Pocklington School Foundation.
In addition, The Rt Honorary The Earl of Halifax Knight of the Order of Street John of Jerusalem Justice of the Peace Doctor of Laws serving as the President of the Leeds Art Collections Fund or LACF and the Vice President of the Yorkshire Society.
Lord Halifax is on the Board of Directors of Jockey Club Estates. Andrew also had a dalliance with Princess Anne. The Countess of Halifax and The Duchess of Cornwall are former sisters-in-law.
Honorary James Charles Wood, Lord Irwin (born 24 August 1977), heir apparent to the earldom, married Georgia East. Clarkson, Lady Irwin, daughter of Patrick Robert James Clarkson, Queen's Counsel (son of Cmdr Robert Anthony Clarkson, LVO, Registered Nurse) and Bridget Cecilia Doyne on 14 October 2006 at Church of Saint John the Evangalist, Sutton Veny in the county of Wiltshire, England.
They have issue:
Honorary Rex Patrick Wood (born 12 August 2010)
Honorary Audrey Nancy Wood (born 23 January 2013)
Lady Joanna Victoria Wood (born 15 January 1980)
Emma Parker Bowles (born 1974). The Earl and Countess of Halifax live on the 20,000 acre family estate, Garrowby Hall near Garrowby, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Lady Halifax is the national president of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Membership
The Earl and The Countess of Halifax are active members of the Jockey Club.
