William Holmes à Court, 2nd Baron Heytesbury

William Henry Ashe à Court-Holmes later Holmes-à Court, 2nd Baron Heytesbury (11 July 1809 – 21 April 1891) was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.

Career Born William Henry Ashe à Court, Lord Heytesbury was the only son of William à Court, 1st Baron Heytesbury and Maria Rebecca Bouverie. In 1828 he went up to St John's College, Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons for the Isle of Wight in 1837, a seat he held until 1847. In 1860, he succeeded his father as second Baron Heytesbury and entered the House of Lords.

Family Lord Heytesbury married Elizabeth Worsley-Holmes, daughter of Sir Leonard Worsley-Holmes, 9th Baronet, in 1833, and whom was the sole heiress of the 9th Baronet and its estates. He assumed by royal licence the additional surname of Holmes after that of Ashe à Court at the same time. In 1860, he changed the family name, by royal licence, from Ashe à Court-Holmes to Holmes à Court. They had ten sons and five daughters: William Leonard Holmes à Court (1835-1885), married, Isabella Sophia Beadon, daughter of Reverend Richard Beadon and Isabella White, and had seven sons and two daughters. His eldest son William Frederick Holmes à Court, 3rd Baron Heytesbury succeeded his grandfather's barony. Frederick Holmes à Court (1839-1917), was an officer in the British Army Elizabeth Waud (née Holmes à Court) (1840-1902), married Edward Wilkes Waud and had three sons and five daughters. Cpt Henry Holmes à Court (1841-1885), was a captain in the Royal Navy. Emily O'Brien (née Holmes à Court) (1842-1868), married Edward Donough O'Brien, 14th Baron Inchiquin and had three sons and one daughter. Charles George Holmes à Court (1843-1924), married firstly, Mary Anderson from 1874 to 1875, secondly, Mary West Howe from 1877 to 1889, thirdly, Martha Clowes from 1895 to 1899, and lastly Mary Rae Johnstone Jenkins from 1901 to 1944. His marriages resulted in four children. Lt Col Edward Alexander Holmes à Court (1845-1923), served as Lieutenant-Colonel of the British Army. He married Adelaide Sophie, daughter of Hugh Hamersley (former husband of his sister) and his second wife Phillippa Mary Anne Phillips in 1880, they had one son and two daughters. Gertrude Anne Hamersley (née Holmes à Court) (1847-1933), married Hugh Hamersley in 1882 but later divorced. Arthur Wyndham Holmes à Court (1848-1915), married Annie Hardtman-Berkeley, daughter of Thomas Hardtman-Berkeley in 1873 and had four sons and one daughter. Leonard Worsley Holmes à Court (1849-1899) Walter Ashe Holmes à Court (1850-1930), married Annie Helmer Herbert Holmes à Court (1851-1921), married Anna Frances Bray, daughter of James Bray, in 1879 Edith Maria Charlotte Holmes à Court (1853-1854) Margaret Holmes à Court (1855-1933) Alfred Holmes à Court (1856)

Lord Heytesbury died in April 1891, aged 81, and was succeeded by his grandson, William Frederick Holmes à Court, whose father William Leonard Holmes à Court had predeceased the 2nd Baron.

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