Ralph Beauclerk

Raphael Charles Beauclerk, better known as Ralph Beauclerk, (1917–2007), VI marqués de Valero de Urría, was an upper-class British Army officer and secret agent, decorated for his WWII service with the Special Operations Executive (SOE).

Background and early life Of Spanish noble and English aristocratic descent, Beauclerk was via his father in remainder to the dukedom of Saint Albans, later succeeding as marqués de Valero de Urría (cr. 1852), when his mother's title was revived in his favour in 1989.

His father William Topham Sidney Beauclerk (grandson of Charles George Beauclerk , only son of Topham Beauclerk by his wife Lady Diana Beauclerk (née Spencer), son of Lord Sidney Beauclerk ) was a civil engineer in the Argentine who, in 1910, married Dolores (aka Lola) de Peñalver y Zamora (1881–1972), V condesa de Peñalver later VII marquesa de Arcos.

His mother, the only surviving child of Enrique de Peñalver y Zamora, VII marqués de Arcos and María Zamora y Pérez de Urría, daughter and heiress of María Pérez de Urría y de la Cuesta, II marquesa de Valero de Urría (by Rafael Zamora y Quesada), succeeded to her family titles. among his cousins was the Marchioness of Cárdenas de Montehermoso, with kinsmen including the Duke of St Albans and the Duchess of Alba.

Personal life On 24 August 1957 at Saigon, Vietnam, Beauclerk married Noirine Mary Bowen (died 20 January 1997), daughter of James Bowen, of Bowen's Court, County Cork; He married in 1986 Margaret Eleanor Mountjoy, having a daughter and two sons: Charlotte Mary Beauclerk (born 24 July 1987) Alexander Charles Beauclerk (born 11 February 1990) Cameron William Beauclerk (born 25 March 1993). Capt Beauclerk's granddaughter, doña Charlotte Beauclerk, is heiress apparent to the marquisate and her younger brothers are in remainder to the dukedom of Saint Albans. His son, the present Marquis and Marquesa de Valero de Urría live at Médan, near Paris.

Honours and decorations The 6th Marquis de Valero de Urría's distinguished services were recognised by being appointed :