Frederick Lambart, 8th Earl of Cavan

Frederick John William Lambart, 8th Earl of the County of Cavan was born on 30 December 1815 at in the parental home of Ower Cottage, Fawley, Eaglehurst, Hampshire, England. He was the son of George Frederick Augustus Lambart, Viscount Kilcoursie and Sarah Coppin.

His father while with the Coldstream Guards, was severely wounded during the Peninsula War in the battle of Talavera and remained lame for the rest of his life until his death in 1828 at the age of 39 years. Frederick was left an orphan. He was sent to Eton 1829 - 1833, where he was known, without his title, simply as Lambart. The Rev Dr Hawtrey was the then headmaster and observed qualities in the lad and gave encouraging influence which helped him succeed in his education.

Career

At the age of 17 he was placed in the 7th Dragoon Guards, joining the regiment in Cork under Colonel Clarke. His service was at the time of one of the manifestations of the Irish rebellion. Martial law was proclaimed and the young officer was obliged to perform sad duties not according to his taste. In 1835 his quarters were changed from Carlow to Dublin. In the Autumn of 1836 he was posted to Walsall, Staffs., England.

He married Caroline Augusta Littleton, daughter of Edward John Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton and Hyacinthe Mary Wellesley, on 24 July 1838 at St. George's Church, St. George Street, Hanover Square, London. It was about this time, after the death of his grandfather that he succeeded to the title and impaired estates. They remained married for 49 years and 5 months, and had five children:
* Lady Mary Hyacinthe Lambart (d. 22 Aug 1933)
* Lady Sarah Sophia Lambart (d. 8 Jul 1914)
* Sir Frederick Edward Gould Lambart, 9th Earl of the County of Cavan (b. 21 Oct 1839, d. 14 Jul 1900)
* Hon. Octavus Henry Lambart (b. 10 Jan 1855, d. 24 Jan 1919)
* Major Hon. Arthur Lambart (b. 11 Aug 1858, d. 3 Apr 1937)

After 1839 they went to Frankfurt am Main, then Ems followed by 2 years in Munich. It was here that his deeper biblical studies began.

Religious Faith

Upon securing a Bible in Dublin in 1835 religion began to play a part in his life. After 1844 he was, until his death, a member of the Open Plymouth Brethren.Fact|date=September 2008

In 1846 Cavan went to Torquay played a part in the formation of the Evangelical Alliance with Sir Culling E. Eardley. Among his special interests was biblical prophecy. He often preached on Christ's expected second advent.

In 1866 Lord Cavan invited Granville Waldegrave (Lord Radstock) to come to Weston-super-Mare for evangelistic meetings. Dr. Frederick Baedeker, brother Karl Baedeker of the famous travel guides editor, attended one of these meetings and experienced a religious conversion.

Death

He died on 16 December 1887, aged 71 at The Lodge, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England. His last words were, 'We need no mnore doctors; the Lord standeth at the door!' He was buried on 22 December 1887, when 500 attended the funeral. Thomas Newberry preached at the grave-side. His will, dated 19 February 1887, was probated at over £10,000.

References

* "Frederick John William, 8th Earl of Cavan. A Life Sketch", privately printed, no date. Weston-super-Mare.
* "Chief Men among the Brethren", Hy Pickering, London and Glasgow.
* "Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage", 107th edition, 3 volumes, Charles Mosley, editor.
* "The Complete Peerage or a History of the House of Lords and All its Members From the Earliest Times", Volume XIV: Addenda & Corrigenda (Stroud, Gloucestershire, U.K.: Sutton Publishing, 1998), p.161, Peter W. Hammond, editor.
* Archive of E. N. Cross, Woolwich, London SE18.