Raymond Asquith, Viscount Asquith

Raymond Benedict Bartholomew Michael Asquith, Viscount Asquith OBE (born 24 August 1952) is a former English diplomat and the heir to the Earldom of Oxford and Asquith created for his paternal great-grandfather H.H. Asquith, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Viscount Asquith, who was named for his paternal grandfather (killed in the First World War) is the elder son and heir apparent of the nonagenarian 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith. His only son and heir is the Hon. Mark Julian Asquith (born May 13, 1979).

Asquith was educated at Farleigh School, Ampleforth College and at Balliol College Oxford. He joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in 1980 and remained a serving diplomat until 1997.

Career Highlights
* 1980-1983 Foreign Office
* 1983-1985 First Secretary, Moscow
* 1985-1992 Cabinet Office, and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
* 1992-1997 Counsellor, Kiev, Ukraine

Lord Asquith was made OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1992. Other members of his family to have served as British diplomats include his father Lord Oxford, his brother Dominic Asquith (currently British Ambassador to Egypt), and his maternal grandfather Sir Michael Palairet.

Lord Asquith is now a company director, and is also active in various organizations that work or promote charitable activities in the Ukraine.

Family

Asquith has been married since 1978 to author and independent scholar Clare Asquith (the former Mary Clare Pollen b. 1951) ^{[http://www.thepeerage.com/p14393.htm#i143922]} , eldest daughter of Francis Anthony Baring Pollen (1926-1987), by his wife Marie Therese Sheridan (later Viscountess Sidmouth, wife ofthe 7th peer). Viscount and Viscountess Asquith have issue five children, including an only son. [ [http://www.godspy.com/culture/Shakespeares-Catholic-Code-by-Clare-Asquith.cfm] Article on Shakespeare's Catholic Code, by Clare Asquith] [ [http://www.godspy.com/reviews/Cracking-Shakespeares-Code-An-interview-with-Claire-Asquith-author-of-Shadowplay.cfm] .A interview with Clare Asquith (Viscountess Asquith)] . Their son Mark Julian Asquith (b. 13 May1979 Frome, Somerset) attended Ampleforth College and then St Andrew's University.

The senior branch of the Asquith family has been Roman Catholic since Katherine Asquith (mother of the 2nd Earl) converted after the death of her husband. Asquith's mother was a Roman Catholic, as is his wife.

References

* Burke's Peerage and Baronetage
* Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage
* Who's Who, 2007 edition. "Asquith, Viscount", page 71, col. 2.

External links

* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p14968.htm#i149675 The Peerage] information on Viscount Asquith
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p14393.htm#i143922 The Peerage] information about Mary Clare Pollen's parents