David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home
David Alexander Cospatrick Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home, was a British banker and hereditary peer. He was a Conservative member of the House of Lords from 1996 until his death in 2022.
Background and education
Home was born in London, the only son of Alec Douglas-Home, the 14th Earl of Home and British prime minister and later Lord Home of the Hirsel, and Elizabeth Alington, daughter of Cyril Alington. He was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton College, and Christ Church, Oxford.In 1963, the year his father disclaimed his earldom, David discontinued the use of his courtesy title, Lord Dunglass.
Career
Home succeeded to his father's disclaimed earldom after his death in October 1995. When the hereditary peers of the House of Lords were reduced under the House of Lords Act 1999, he was elected as one of the 92 that were allowed to remain. He sat as a Conservative, having served some time on the Conservative front bench.Apart from his political career, Lord Home worked in finance. In 1974, he joined Morgan Grenfell and worked in Egypt, Hong Kong, and Thailand. From 1999 to 2013, he was chairman of the private bank Coutts & Co.
He was also President of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and Chief of the Name and Arms of Home.
Home was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Thistle in the 2014 New Year Honours.
Personal life
Lord Home married Jane Margaret Williams-Wynne, of the Williams-Wynn baronet family, in 1972. They had three children:- Lady Iona Katherine Douglas-Home, married the Hon. James Thomas Wingfield Hewitt, son and heir of the 9th Viscount Lifford, on 5 April 2008. They have three sons:
- *Harry Alexander Wyldbore Hewitt
- *Rory David Wingfield Hewitt
- *Nico James Cospatrick Hewitt
- Lady Mary Elizabeth Douglas-Home, married Christopher Gurth Clothier. They have two daughters:
- *Eira Thursday Clothier
- *Seren Bright Clothier
- Michael David Alexander Douglas-Home, 16th Earl of Home, married to Sally Underhill
Death