Biography of Francis Richard Charteris 10th Earl of Wemyss 1818-1914

On 28th June 1853 [his grandfather] Francis Charteris 8th Earl of Wemyss Douglas 4th Earl March (age 81) died. His son [his father] Francis (age 56) succeeded 9th Earl Wemyss, 2nd Baron Wemyss of Wemyss in Fife. [his mother] Louisa Bingham Countess Wemyss (age 55) by marriage Countess Wemyss.

His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban Volume XL reads as follows:

THE EARL OF WEMYSS AND MARCH June 28 At Gosford House East Lothian in his 81st year the Right Hon Francis Wemyss Charteris Wemyss sixth Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho and Methel 1633 Baron Wemyss of Elcho 1628 Earl of March Viscount of Peebles and Lord Niedpath, Lyne and Munard 1697 all dignities in the peerage of Scotland Baron Wemyss of Wemyss co Fife 1821 and Lord Lieutenant of Peebleshire.

He was born on the 15th April 1772 the only son of Francis Lord Elcho son and heir apparent of the fifth Earl by Miss Susan Tracy Keck one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Charlotte the second daughter of Anthony Tracy Keck esq of Great Tew co Oxford by Lady Susan Hamilton fourth daughter of James fourth Duke of Hamilton and first Duke of Brandon KG and KT.

In early life his lordship had a commission in the army and from 1793 to 1797 was aide de camp to his grand uncle Lord Adam Gordon Commander in chief of the forces in Scotland He quitted the army in 1797.

His father Lord Elcho died on the 20th June 1808 and his grandfather on the 24th August following whereupon he succeeded to the Earldom of Wemyss and its attendant titles. On the death of William fourth Duke of Queensberry (age 83) in Dec 1810 he inherited the barony of Niedpath and the extensive property which had belonged to his Grace in the county of Peebles in pursuance of the terms of the marriage contract of the first Earl of March his Grace's grandfather. He also succeeded to the dignities of Earl of March, Viscount of Peebles and Lord Douglas of Niedpath, Lyne and Munard the patent of creation being to Lord William Douglas et heredes masculos de ejus corpore quibus deficientibus alios ejus hæredes masin culos et talliæ contentos in ejus infeofa mentis terrarum et dominii de Niedpath.

His Lordship was created a peer of the united kingdom by the title of Baron Wemyss at the Coronation of King George IV by patent dated 17th July 1821. He supported the Conservative party in parliament but took but little interest in politics.

He married May 31 1794 Margaret (age 16) fourth daughter of Walter Campbell esq of Shawfield (age 54) by his first wife Eleanor daughter of Robert Kerr of Newfield eldest son of Lord Charles Kerr second son of Robert first Marquess of Lothian. By that lady who died in 1850 he had issue two sons and nine daughters 1 Francis his successor 2 Lady [his aunt] Eleanor (age 1) married in 1820 to Walter Frederick Campbell of Woodhall co Lanark esq eldest son of Colonel John Campbell (age 26) by Lady Charlotte (age 21) daughter of John fifth Duke of Argyle (age 73) and died in 1832 3 the Hon [his uncle] Walter died 1818 4 Susan who died in infancy 5 Lady [his aunt] Margaret married in 1824 to Lieut Colonel John Wildman and died in 1825 6 Lady [his aunt] Katharine married in 1824 to her cousin George Harry Lord Grey of Groby who died in 1835 and she died in 1844 leaving issue the present Earl of Stamford and Warrington and Lady Margaret Milbanke 7 Lady [his aunt] Charlotte (age 1) married in 1825 to Andrew Fletcher esq of Salton Castle East Lothian 8 Lady [his aunt] Louisa Antoinetta (age 1) married in 1832 to William Forbes esq of Callendar co Stirling late MP for Stirlingshire 9 Lady [his aunt] Harriet (age 1) married in 1829 to Sir George Grant Suttie Bart 10 Lady Jane and 11 Lady Caroline. The present Earls in 1796 married in 1817 Lady Louisa Bingham fourth daughter of [his grandfather] Richard 2d Earl Lucan (age 31) by whom he has issue Francis Lord Elcho four other sons and daughters.

The Times. 2nd February 1911. The Hon. Hugo Charteris, eldest son of [his son] Lord (age 53) and [his daughter-in-law] Lady Elcho (age 48) and grandson of the Earl of Wenyss (age 92), was married yesterday at St. Margaret's, Westmister [Map], to [his granddaughter-in-law] Lady Violet Manners (age 22), second daughter of the Duke (age 58) and Duchess of Rutland (age 54). The wedding excited much interest, and by the time the bride arrived at the church there was a crowd which extended halfway across Parliament-square. The service was held at 2.15, and by 2 o'clock there was not a vacant seat in the church. The choir stalls and the chancel entrance wetre decorated with flowers, mainly arum lilies. While the guests were assembling the "March" from Trmihauser was played and a guard of honour, supplied by O 'quadron 'of the Gloucestershire Yeomanry, in which the bridegroom holds a commission, lined the. asle.

The bridesmaids, the Ladies Marjorie (age 27) and Diana (age 19),Manners (the bride's sisters), the [his granddaughter] Hon. Mary (age 16) and the [his granddaughter] Hon. Irene (age 9) Charteris (sisters of the bridegrom), the Hon. Irene Lawley, Miss Nancy, Lindsay, Miss Elizabeth Manners, and M1iss Felicity Tree awaited the bride by the west door. They were wearing frocks designed from a picture by Botticelli. The gowns of the elder bridesmaids were of champagne; coloured crepe-de-chine with a pink foundation. An embroidery of green leaves showed at the neok and waist. Small roses and daisies were embroidered over the whole frock, and touches ot red velvet appeared beneath the hem and at the elbow. They wore net caps trimmed with red rosebuds. The two younger bridesmaids, who walked immediately behind the bride, wore frocks of pink chiffon, and wreaths of red roses in their hair. The Duke of Rutland accompanied his daughter to the church. The [his grandson] Hon. Guy Charteris (age 25) was best man.

The bride's dress was of white charmeuse with a tunic of old English lace, held in at the waist by a band of gold tissue. The train was of gold brocade mounted on white velvet, at the hem of which were worked in gold the heraldic designs of the Rutland and Wemyss families. The Bishop of Derby officiated, assisted by Canon McCormick and the Rev. F. W. Knox (private chaplain to the Duke of Rutland). A wedding march composed for the occasion by Mr. Raymond Roze was played as the bride and bride-groom left the chut&b.

THE GUESTS.

The Duchess of Wellington (age 62), wearing a dress of old rose velvet with furs and a hat with rose-coloured plumes, brought her daughter, Lady Eileen Wellesley (age 23), who was dressed in sapphire blue velvet, The Duchess of Rutland wore a tunic of grey moire velours over grey chiffon velvet, caught at the shoulders by diamond ornaments, with long tasselled ende falling, in front of the skirt. Her hat was trimmed with flamingo plumes wirith touches of eau-de-nil. The Marchioness of Anglesey wore black satin, witb a hat crowned with many small white plumes. Theh Mfarchioness of Tweeddale wvore a coat and skirt of black braided velvet and a large hat adorned with a royal blue feather. The Prime Minister was present vwith his sister-in-law, Mrs. Oraham Smith. who wore a long black brocaded wrap over a dress of dark material. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton was accompanied by Mxl. Lyttelton, who was dressed in black satin with touches of bright blue. The French, Germian, and Spanish Ambassadors were also present. Lady Tree wore a dress of Ermine fur, with a hat of green felt trimmed with everlasting flowers; and Lady Lytton wore an embroidered cloak over a dress of grey material, and a small toque with green feathers. Lady Beatrico Rawson, who was wearing pale mauve, brought her daughter, Miss Violet Rawson, who was dressed in navy blue. The Earl and Countess of Wemyss arrived a few minutes before the bride, the latter dressed in soft grey ehil!on voile with marten furs, and wearing a toque trimmed with smalU grey feathers, Lady Beat-rice Hlerbert, who cameo with Viscountess Ingestre, was dressed in black velvet, with a crimson cloak and a collar of old point lace.