Gilbert Henry Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster Personal Computer, known as 2nd Baron Aveland from 1867 to 1888 and as 25th Baron Willoughby de Eresby from 1888 to 1892, was a British Liberal politician and court official
Background
Born Gilbert Henry Heathcote, he was the son of Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baron Aveland and Clementina Elizabeth Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. In 1852 Ancaster was elected to the House of Commons for Boston, a seat he held until 1856, and then represented Rutland until he succeeded his father as second Baron Aveland in 1867.
Education
He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Career
In 1872 he assumed by Royal licence the additional surnames of Willoughby and Drummond. He held the office of Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain from 1871 to 1901 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1880. In 1888 he succeeded his mother as twenty-fifth Baron Willoughby de Eresby and four years later he was created Earl of Ancaster, in the County of Lincoln.
This was a revival of the title held by his maternal ancestors the Dukes of Ancaster and Kesteven.
Lord Ancaster married Lady Evelyn Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of Charles Gordon, 10th Marquess of Huntly, in 1863. They had ten children:
Lady Evelyn Clementina Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1864–1924), married Major-General
Sir Henry Ewart, 1st Baronet of White House. Lady Margaret Mary Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (since 1866), married in 1902 Gideon Macpherson Rutherford, barrister-at-law.
Honorary Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1867–1951), succeeded as 2nd Earl of Ancaster.
Lady Nina Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1869–1940). Brigade-General Honorary Charles Strathavon Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1870–1949), fought in the Second Boer War and World War I.
Lieutenant-Colonel Honorary Claud Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1872–1950), fought in the Second Boer War and World War I, and was a Conservative politician.
Lady Cecilie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (since 1874) married Thomas Clarence Edward Goff.
Lady Alice Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1876–1951). Lady Mary Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (since 1878), married the 14th Earl of Dalhousie and became the mother of both the 15th and the 16th Earl.
Lieutenant-Cdr Honorary Peter Robert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, Registered Nurse (1885–1914), naval officer killed in the sinking of HMS Monmouth at the Battle of Coronel.
Membership
16th United Kingdom Parliament. 17th United Kingdom Parliament. 18th United Kingdom Parliament.
19th United Kingdom Parliament.