Harold Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray

Harold Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray
Born (1882-04-18)18 April 1882
Spouse(s) Agnes Beryl Spencer-Churchill
Parents Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray
Annie Cass

(Weetman) Harold Miller Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray DL (18 April 1882 – 5 October 1933),[1] styled The Honourable Harold Pearson between 1910 and 1927, was a British peer and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Cowdray was the son of Weetman Dickinson Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray, and Annie, daughter of Sir John Cass.[2]

Political career

Cowdray was elected as Member of Parliament for Eye at a by-election April 1906,[3] and held the seat until the 1918 general election, which he did not contest.[4] In 1927 he succeeded his father in the viscountcy and entered the House of Lords. He was also a major in the Sussex Yeomanry and a Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex.[2] He was also the Chairman of the Hurlingham Club Polo Committee until his death.[5]

Polo

He learnt to play polo at Oxford University and his love of the sport resulted in the grounds being laid out at Cowdray House in 1910.[6] Chukkas started in April, although most competitions coincided with the festival of racing at nearby Goodwood in late July - the principal cup being the Cowdray Park Challenge Cup still played for today. When harold acquired the estate in 1919, he renamed his 'Capron House' team (named after his former residence) to 'Cowdray Park' accordingly. The yellow of their team shirts was their signature colour to match the Liberal Party, which he and his father supported.[6]

Family

Harold Pearson's grave at St. Mary's parish church, Easebourne, West Sussex

Lord Cowdray married Agnes Beryl, daughter of Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill, in 1905. They had one son and five daughters. He died in October 1933, aged 51, and was succeeded by his only son, Weetman. Lady Cowdray died in February 1948, aged 66.[2]

References

  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 2)
  2. 1 2 3 Lundy, Darryl. "Person page - 10169". thePeerage.com.
  3. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 391. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  4. Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  5. "Polo Monthly 1932" (PDF). Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Legends of the ball". Hurlingham Polo: 66. June 2010.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Francis Seymour Stevenson
Member of Parliament for Eye
19061918
Succeeded by
Alexander Lyle-Samuel
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Weetman Dickinson Pearson
Viscount Cowdray
19271933
Succeeded by
Weetman John Churchill Pearson
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