John Francis Charles, 7th Count de Salis-Soglio

Sir John Francis Charles de Salis, 7th Count, CMG, CVO (1909), KCMG (1913)(19 July 1864 - 14 January 1939).

British diplomat and landowner.

He was the eldest son of Count John Francis William de Salis (1825 - 1871), a diplomat and renowned numismaticist of Hillingdon, by his wife Amelia Frances Harriet (1837-8.1.1885), daughter of Christopher Tower, JP DL MP, of Huntsmoor Park, Iver.After Eton (1877-1882) he was nominated an Attaché in the diplomatic service 20 November 1886. He passed a competitive examination, January 14, 1887. On 12 June 1888 he was appointed to Brussels as an Attaché and promoted to 3rd Secretary, January 14, 1889; thence...; 24 April 1892 Madrid; Promoted to 2nd Secretary August 22, 1893; August 1894 Cairo under Lord Cromer in charge of the agency there when the Dervishes were active (he was granted an allowance for knowledge of Arabic, April 2, 1895); autumn 1897 Berlin; 1899 Brussels; 1901 Athens, head of chancery (dealing with the Macedonian problem); promoted to be a 1st Secretary April1, 1904. Employed 1901-06 Foreign Office London; Appointed a British Delegate for a negotiation of a new Commercial Convention with Roumania, September 7, 1905; Berlin charge d'affairs and counsellor of the embassy 1906-1911; was a British delegate at the International Copyright Conference at Berlin, October, November 1908; November 1911-16 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Montenegro, Cettinje; envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary on a special mission to the Holy See, 1916-1923, (Pope Benedict XV 1916-1922, and same to Pope Pius XI 1922-1923). Unemployed from January 8, 1923.

He was one of the three members of the 1931 of the Malta Royal Commission, report issued in a blue-book, 11 February 1932.

In 1876 the Count was listed in "Landowners, Return of Owners of Land", Dublin, 1876, as being of Tandragee and London and owning 3,663 acres worth £5,392 per annum in County Armagh and 4,026 acres worth £3,349 per annum in County Limerick. The 1883 and 1887 "Burke's Peerage" and "Walford's" list him as living at Grange Hill, Limerick; 7, Athlestone terrace; and Hillingdon place, Middlesex. He was accordingly a JP for Limerick and Armagh; and Deputy Lieutenant (DL) for Limerick. Debret's Peerage in 1925 had his "seats" as: Loughgur, co. Limerick; and Bondo, Bregalia, Grisons. In 1908 he was number 29,148 in the list of descendants of Edward III; 7,337 in the list of those living. His livery was: green coat with a yellow waistcoat.

In addition to his CVO, CMG and KCMG, he held the 2nd Class Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, and the 1911 Coronation Medal.

Wife and her family

He married in Brussels, 6 December 1890, Hélène Marie de Riquet, Comtesse de Caraman-Chimay (born chateau de Ménars, Loire 18.8.1864 - died Bruxelles 31 May 1902), daughter of Marie Eugène Auguste de Riquet, Prince de Caraman-Chimay, (born Ménars, 08.01.1847, died chateau de Chimay, Hainault, Wallonia 20.6.1881) by Louise de Graffenried-Villars (born Ile de France 17.6.1842, died Bxl. 18.10.1901).Prince Eugene was son of Joseph Philippe de Riquet de Caraman, 17th Prince de Chimay and 1st Prince de Caraman, of Chimay, Ménars, etc, (born Paris 20.8.1808, died London 12.3.1886) by Émilie Louise Marie Françoise Joséphine Pellapra, (born Lyon 11.11.1806, died Ménars 22.5.1871).

Prince Eugene was grandson of François-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet, Count de Caraman, 16th Prince de Chimay, (born Paris 21.9.1771, died Toulouse 2.3.1843), by Juana Maria Ignazia Teresa Cabarrús, Madame Tallien, (born Carabanchel Alto, Spain 31.7.1773, died Chimay 15.1.1835), who he married in Paris 22.8.1805.

Clubs

:He was a member of the Marlborough; Bath; White's; and Travellers'.

His Brother

Count (Henry) Rodolph ("Rudie") de Salis (30 June 1866 - 3 March 1936).Author "Bradshaw's Canals & Navigable Rivers of England & Wales", 1904, 1918 and 1928.De Salis: 'explored the waterways yard by yard, mile by mile travelling in his launch for 11 years and covering 14,000 miles'.He was a main witness to the "Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways" (1906). (see Butterley Tunnel).

Educated at Eton (1880-1884) (Shooting VIII, 1882-83, Peek Cup, 1883). Associate Member Institution Civil Engineers. Associate of the Institute of Naval Architects. Member of the Society of Art. JP for Buckinghamshire (1898); High Sheriff, Bucks (1915). Member Buckinghamshire County Council (1898-1916); Thames Conservancy Board (1911-1916). He was director of: Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd (canal carriers); Windsor Electrical Installation Co. Ltd (1901-1920); Slough and Datchet Electrical Supply Co. Ltd (1908-1920).

He married, 9 May 1893, Alice Mary (d.10 June 1939), daughter of Robert Lambert (of the Monmouthshire, 43rd, Light Infantry), of Weston, Thames Ditton.They lived at Ivy Lodge, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire; Acton Lodge, Leamington Spa; and retired to Chy-Morvah, St. Ives, Cornwall.

Ancestors

References

* "Quadrennial di Fano Saliceorum, volume one", by R. de Salis, London, 2003.
* "De Salis Family : English Branch", by Rachel Fane De Salis, Henley-on-Thames, 1934.
* "Burke's Irish Family Records", ed. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Peerage Ltd, London, 1976.
* "A genealogical and heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry", by Sir (John) Bernard Burke, CB, LLD, vol. 2, London, 1895/1899 (pages 574-77).
* "Burke's Peerage", Foreign Noblemen / Foreign Titles sections: 1851, 1936, 1956, etc.
* "Debrett's Peerage", Foreign Titles section, 1920, 1925, etc.
* "Der Grafliche Hauser", Band XI [volume 11] , "Genealogisches Handbuch Des Adels", C. A. Starke Verlag, Limburg an der Lahn, 1983 (pps 331-356).
* "Armorial Families, a directory of Coat- Armour", compiled by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, volume 1, 1929.
* "The Foreign Office List and Diplomatic and Consular Year Book for 1928", ed. Godfrey E. P. Hertslet, Harrison & sons, London, 1928. (Page 390).
* "The Times", Obituaries, 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th January, 1939.
* "The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, being a complete table of all the descendants now living of Edward III, King of England", by the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, "Anne of Exeter volume", TC & EC Jack, London, 1907 (page 361).