Background
Upon the death of his father in 1982, he succeeded him as the 3rd Baron Cornwallis. His first wife was Judith Lacy (née Scott), daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Geffrey Lacy Scott.
Upon the death of his father in 1982, he succeeded him as the 3rd Baron Cornwallis. His first wife was Judith Lacy (née Scott), daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Geffrey Lacy Scott.
He attended Eton College.
He was the younger child, and the only son, of Wykeham Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis and Cecily Etha Mary (née Walker). He had an elder sister, Rosamond Patricia Susan Anne Cornwallis (15 May 1918 – 3 September 1960). Lord Cornwallis married three times.
During World World War II, Lord Cornwallis served with the Coldstream Guards between 1940 – 1944 when he was invalided out of the army.
He was also a very senior Freemason, and served as Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England from 1982 to 1992, having previously been Deputy Grand Master, and Pro First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England and Wales from 1982 to 1992, having previously been Second Grand Principal. He had been a stamp collector since his youth.
His specialised collections of Australia, Gambia, Gibraltar, and Malta stamps were sold in 2011. Cornwallis was the grandson of Fiennes Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis.
The great-grandson of Fiennes Cornwallis.
The 2nd great-grandson of James Mann, 5th Earl Cornwallis. The 3rd great-grandson of James Cornwallis, 4th Earl Cornwallis. The 4th great-grandson of Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis.
The 5th great-grandson of Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis.
The 6th great-grandson of Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis. The 7th great-grandson of Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis.
The 8th great-grandson of Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis. And the 9th great-grandson of Jane Cornwallis, and Elizabeth Richardson, 1st Lady Cramond.
His ancestors include Edward Cornwallis, Frederick Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, William Cornwallis, and Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis.
He was a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London from 1988 and a member of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Philatelic Society.
