Alexander Ramsay of Mar

Alexander Ramsay of Mar

Captain Alexander Arthur Alfonso David Maule Ramsay of Mar (21 December 1919–20 December 2000) was the only child of HRH Princess Patricia of Connaught, who renounced her royal title and style when she married then-Captain the Hon. Alexander Ramsay in February 1919. His mother was the youngest child of HRH The Duke of Connaught, the third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. His father was the third son of the Earl of Dalhousie.

Born at Clarence House, then the London residence of his maternal grandfather, the Duke of Connaught. He (along with his cousin Viscount Lascelles, later 7th Earl of Harewood) acted as a page of honour during the coronation of King George VI. After leaving Eton College the same year, he received commission in the Grenadier Guards. Ramsay saw active service in North Africa during World War II. He lost his right leg during a tank battle at Tunisia in 1943. In 1944, he joined the staff of his cousin, HRH the Duke of Gloucester, who was then governor general of Australia.

Upon returning to Britain in 1947, he was informed that he would inherit Mar Lodge and its estates from his aunt, Princess Arthur of Connaught. In preparation for this role, he read agriculture at Trinity College, Cambridge. After graduating in 1952, he worked for three years as assistant factor on the Linlithgow estates at South Queensferry. Ramsay inherited the Mar estate in 1959. At that point, Lord Lyon King of Arms allowed him to add the designation "of Mar" to his name. Part of the estate had to be sold to pay inheritance tax and became Mar Lodge Estate.

In 1956, Ramsay married Flora Fraser (18 October 1930-), the only daughter of Alexander Fraser, 20th Lord Saltoun and chief of the Name of Fraser. His wife succeeded her father as the 21st Lady Saltoun and chief of the Name of Fraser in her own right in 1979. Thereafter, they resided at wife's family seat, Cairnbulg Castle at Fraserburgh, in Aberdeenshire. In 1971, he became the deputy lord lieutenant for Aberdeenshire.

Although the Ramsays of Mar had no royal titles and carried out no public duties, they were regarded as members of the extended British Royal Family, attending most major royal events. Alexander Ramsay of Mar died on the eve of his eighty-first birthday. At the time of his death, he was one of five surviving great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.

Captain Alexander Ramsay of Mar and Lady Saltoun had three daughters, three granddaughters and four grandsons:

* Hon. Katharine Ingrid Mary Isabel Fraser, Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire since 2005, (11 October 1957-) m. Mark Nicolson (29 September 1954-).
** Louise Alexandra Patricia Nicolson, formerly Fraser (2 September 1984-)
** Juliet Victoria Katharine Nicolson (3 March 1988-)
** Alexander William Malise Fraser (5 July 1990-)
* Hon. Alice Elizabeth Margaret Ramsay of Mar (8 July 1961-) m. David Alan Ramsey (17 September 1960-).
** Alexander David Ramsey (17 December 1991-)
** Victoria Alice Ramsey (7 April 1994-)
** George Arthur Ramsey (28 September 1995-)
** Oliver Henry Ramsey (28 September 1995-)
* Hon. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Ramsay of Mar (15 April 1963-)

Katherine Ramsey is heir presumptive to her mother's peerage and the headship of Fraser clan. Lord Lyon King Arms officially recognized her use of the surname Fraser in 1973. Her elder daughter Louise also used this surname until Alexander was born, when she ceased to use the surname and her brother used it.

Elizabeth Ramsay is the youngest great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alexander Ramsay — may refer to:* Sir Alexander Ramsay, 5th Baronet, MP for Kincardineshire 1713 1715 * Sir Alexander Ramsay, 2nd Baronet, MP for Kincardineshire 1820 1826 * Sir Alexander Ramsay, 3rd Baronet, Liberal MP for Rochdale 1857 1859 * Sir Alexander Ramsay …   Wikipedia

  • Elizabeth Ramsay of Mar — The Honourable Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Ramsay of Mar (15 April 1963) was the third child and third daughter of Captain the Hon. Alexander Ramsay of Mar, the only son of HRH Princess Patricia of Connaught, who renounced her royal title and style… …   Wikipedia

  • Ramsay — may refer to:Places*Ramsay, Louisiana, United States of America *Ramsay, Michigan, United States of America *Ramsay, Montana, United States of America *Electoral district of Ramsay, a state electoral district in South Australia. *Ramsay, Calgary …   Wikipedia

  • Alexander Robert Maule Ramsay — Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexander Robert Maule Ramsay GCVO KCB DSO, (29 May 1881 ndash; 8 October 1972) was a member of the British Royal Family, he was also a British naval officer who was the husband of Princess Patricia of Connaught, the… …   Wikipedia

  • Clan Ramsay — Crest badge …   Wikipedia

  • Roberto Ramsay — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Roberto Ramsay Contraalmirante Años de servicio 55 Lealtad …   Wikipedia Español

  • Andrew Michael Ramsay — (9 January 1686 – 6 May 1743), commonly called the Chevalier Ramsay, was a Scottish born writer who lived most of his adult life in France. He was a Baronet in the Jacobite Peerage. Ramsay was born in Ayr, Scotland, the son of a baker. He served… …   Wikipedia

  • Clan Mar — Crest badge Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, two wings, each of ten pen feathers, erected and addorsed, both blazoned as in the Arms. Motto: PANS PLUS …   Wikipedia

  • Earl of Dalhousie — James Broun Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie Earl of Dalhousie, in the County of Midlothian, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, held by the Chief of Clan Ramsay. Contents 1 …   Wikipedia

  • Princess Patricia of Connaught — Infobox British Royalty|royal name = Lady Patricia Ramsay title = Princess Patricia of Connaught caption = Princess Patricia, photographed by W D Downey spouse = Sir Alexander Ramsay issue = Alexander Ramsay of Mar full name = Victoria Patricia… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”