Lord Haddington
1894-1986
1894-1986
George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington, was born on September 18, 1894, the son of Brigadier-General George Baillie-Haddington, Lord Binning and Katherine Augusta Millicent Salting.
George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington, was born on September 18, 1894, the son of Brigadier-General George Baillie-Haddington, Lord Binning and Katherine Augusta Millicent Salting.
He was educated at Eton and then at Sandhurst. He fought in the First World War as a Captain in the 2nd Dragoon (Royal Scots Greys). He was wounded during the War and awarded the Military Cross for bravery. He succeeded his grandfather to the earldom in 1917. He married Sarah Cook, daughter of George William Cook, on September 10, 1923. They had two children, a daughter, Mary, and a son, John George.
He was educated at Eton and then at Sandhurst. He fought in the First World War as a Captain in the 2nd Dragoon (Royal Scots Greys). He was wounded during the War and awarded the Military Cross for bravery. He succeeded his grandfather to the earldom in 1917. He married Sarah Cook, daughter of George William Cook, on September 10, 1923. They had two children, a daughter, Mary, and a son, John George.
Lord Haddington made his debut under National Hunt rules on Curraghgour in the United Border Hunt Chase at Kelso on April 24, 1922. It was an inauspicious start, resulting in Curraghgour refusing at one of the fences. Indeed, Lord Haddington had to wait five years to register his first success under NH rules, courtesy of Sheikh V in Kelso’s Buccleuch Hunters’ Chase on May 8, 1928.
Lord Haddington made his debut under National Hunt rules on Curraghgour in the United Border Hunt Chase at Kelso on April 24, 1922. It was an inauspicious start, resulting in Curraghgour refusing at one of the fences. Indeed, Lord Haddington had to wait five years to register his first success under NH rules, courtesy of Sheikh V in Kelso’s Buccleuch Hunters’ Chase on May 8, 1928.
By far his best horse was Merriement IV, whom he both owned and bred. A chestnut gelding by Lovely Thrush out of First Impression, he was trained at Granthouses by Stewart Wight. Ridden throughout his career by his owner, Merriement IV was the winner of the 1931 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
By far his best horse was Merriement IV, whom he both owned and bred. A chestnut gelding by Lovely Thrush out of First Impression, he was trained at Granthouses by Stewart Wight. Ridden throughout his career by his owner, Merriement IV was the winner of the 1931 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
Due to frost, the National Hunt Meeting was postponed that year and, among other races, the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup were lost. However, the National Hunt Chase, which at that time was still considered more prestigious than either of those two championship races, was held at Cheltenham’s spring fixture in April for horses originally entered in the race. Merriement IV took up the running two fences from home and went on to score by two lengths at the generous odds of 20-1. Even more generously, he paid a return of over 100-1 on the Tote, probably due to him having refused in the hunter chase at Cheltenham the previous day.
Due to frost, the National Hunt Meeting was postponed that year and, among other races, the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup were lost. However, the National Hunt Chase, which at that time was still considered more prestigious than either of those two championship races, was held at Cheltenham’s spring fixture in April for horses originally entered in the race. Merriement IV took up the running two fences from home and went on to score by two lengths at the generous odds of 20-1. Even more generously, he paid a return of over 100-1 on the Tote, probably due to him having refused in the hunter chase at Cheltenham the previous day.
Merriement IV had had his first outing of 1931 when carrying Lord Haddington to victory by five lengths in the Northern Hunters’ Cup at Catterick in March. On April 1 he won the Rothbury Cup Hunters’ Chase by 10 lengths, then two weeks later won the National Hunt Chase. Merriement IV and his owner-rider went on to win a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Hexham and a three-mile chase at Wetherby in October, then finished third to West Indies in the Valentine Chase for amateur riders over the Grand National fences in November.
Merriement IV had had his first outing of 1931 when carrying Lord Haddington to victory by five lengths in the Northern Hunters’ Cup at Catterick in March. On April 1 he won the Rothbury Cup Hunters’ Chase by 10 lengths, then two weeks later won the National Hunt Chase. Merriement IV and his owner-rider went on to win a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Hexham and a three-mile chase at Wetherby in October, then finished third to West Indies in the Valentine Chase for amateur riders over the Grand National fences in November.
Lord Haddington rode Merriement IV in the 1932 Grand National but they fell at the fourth fence. Later that year, they won a handicap chase at Kelso in October, then the following month carried 12st 11lb to victory in the Valentine Chase at Liverpool. In 1933 they won a handicap chase at Derby before again falling in the Grand National, this time remounting to complete the course 18th of the 19 finishers, being another remounter.
Lord Haddington rode Merriement IV in the 1932 Grand National but they fell at the fourth fence. Later that year, they won a handicap chase at Kelso in October, then the following month carried 12st 11lb to victory in the Valentine Chase at Liverpool. In 1933 they won a handicap chase at Derby before again falling in the Grand National, this time remounting to complete the course 18th of the 19 finishers, being another remounter.
Lord Haddington rode a total of 28 winners under National Hunt rules, nine of them in the 1932/33 season, his most successful campaign. His final win was achieved on Herode Bridge in the South Durham Open Hunt Challenge Cup Chase at Sedgefield on February 20, 1935. He rode for the last time under rules the following month, March 20, when unseated from Hundy Mundy in the Sedgefield’s Tally Ho Chase.
Lord Haddington rode a total of 28 winners under National Hunt rules, nine of them in the 1932/33 season, his most successful campaign. His final win was achieved on Herode Bridge in the South Durham Open Hunt Challenge Cup Chase at Sedgefield on February 20, 1935. He rode for the last time under rules the following month, March 20, when unseated from Hundy Mundy in the Sedgefield’s Tally Ho Chase.
During the Second World War he was a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and Major in the 19th Lothians and Border Horse Armoured Car Company Territorial Army, as well as Captain of the Royal Company of Archers.
During the Second World War he was a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and Major in the 19th Lothians and Border Horse Armoured Car Company Territorial Army, as well as Captain of the Royal Company of Archers.
Lord Haddington was a Representative Peer of Scotland between 1922 and 1958. He was Deputy Lieutenant of East Lothian 1929–1946, Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian 1946–1952, and Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian 1952–1970. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in East Lothian and Berwickshire. He was invested as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle on December 6, 1951. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law by Glasgow University in 1957.
Lord Haddington was a Representative Peer of Scotland between 1922 and 1958. He was Deputy Lieutenant of East Lothian 1929–1946, Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian 1946–1952, and Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian 1952–1970. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in East Lothian and Berwickshire. He was invested as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle on December 6, 1951. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law by Glasgow University in 1957.
He was Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire from 1952 to 1969. In 1957, he became the first president of the Georgian Group of Edinburgh, later the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Having originally lived at Netherstone, in Berwickshire, in later life he resided at Tyninghame House in East Lothian, where he and his wife created and replanted several formal gardens.
He was Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire from 1952 to 1969. In 1957, he became the first president of the Georgian Group of Edinburgh, later the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Having originally lived at Netherstone, in Berwickshire, in later life he resided at Tyninghame House in East Lothian, where he and his wife created and replanted several formal gardens.
His daughter, Lady Mary, was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s maids of honour at her coronation in 1953.
His daughter, Lady Mary, was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s maids of honour at her coronation in 1953.
Lord Haddington, the 12th Earl, died on April 17, 1986, aged 91.
Lord Haddington, the 12th Earl, died on April 17, 1986, aged 91.
