Richard Lyon-Dalberg-Acton, 2nd Baron Acton

Richard Maximilian Lyon-Dalberg-Acton, 2nd Baron Acton, KCVO, JP, DL (7 August 1870-16 June 1924) was a British Peer and diplomat. The son of John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, he succeeded to the barony upon the death of his father.

He married Dorothy Lyon, daughter of Thomas Henry Lyon, on 7 June 1904, and they had the following children:
*Hon. Marie Immaculeé Antoinette Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1905-1994)
*Hon. Dorothy Elizabeth Anne Pelline Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1906-1998)
*John Emerich Henry Lyon-Dalberg-Acton, 3rd Baron Acton (1907-1989)
*Hon. Richard William Heribert Peter Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1909-1946)
*Hon. Helen Mary Grace Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (b. 21 May 1910)
*Hon. Gabrielle Marie Leopoldine Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1912_1930)
*Hon. Joan Henrica Josepha Mary Clare Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1915-1995)
*Hon. Margaret Mary Teresa Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1919-1997)
*Hon. Ædgyth Bertha Milburg Mary Antonia Frances Lyon-Dalberg-Acton (1920-1995)

Career

Baptised Richard Maximilian Dalberg-Acton, in 1919 his name was legally changed to Richard Maximilian Lyon-Dalberg-Acton by Royal Licence. He was a clerk in the Foreign Office in 1894, and was promoted to Third Secretary of the Diplomatic Service in 1896 and Second Secretary of the Diplomatic Service in 1900. He succeeded to his father titles on 19 June 1902, becoming 9th Baronet (of Aldenham), 2nd Baron Acton, and Patrician of Naples, Italy. He held the British court post of a Lord-in-Waiting between 1905 and 1915. In 1904, he entered the British diplomatic service abroad, holding a series of posts as Chargé d'Affaires: in Berne between 1904 and 1906 and in Madrid between 1906 and 1907. He was then appointed First Secretary of the Diplomatic Service in 1908, and became Chargé d'Affaires in The Hague between 1908 and 1911; in Darmstadt between 1911 and 1914; and in Berne between 1915 and 1916. He was appointed held the office of Consul-General in Zurich between 1917 and 1918. The was then promoted to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Finland between 1919 and 1920.

Despite his British roots and long service, having been born abroad, he was not formally a British subject, until he was naturalised by Act of Parliament in 1911. He was invested as a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour and with a Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog.