George Sidney Herbert

Colonel the Hon. Sir George Sidney Herbert, 1st Baronet (8 October 1886 – 30 January 1942)[1] was an English businessman and member of the Royal Household.

Early life and education

George Sidney Herbert was born on 8 October 1886. He was the fourth of four children, and the second of two sons, born to Lady Beatrix Louisa Lambton and Sidney Herbert, the 14th Earl of Pembroke; his brother Reginald would become the 15th. George Herbert was educated at Eton, and then Magdalen College at the University of Oxford.[2][3]

In 1902 Herbert served as his father's page at the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra, walking behind his father and carrying his coronet during the king and queen's procession.[4][5]

Career

From 1914 to 1919, Herbert served as a colonel in the First World War. Later, he served as the director of the Wilton Royal Carpet Factory, of Wessex Associated News Ltd, and of Western Gazette Co. Ltd. He also served as a local director for Liverpool, London & Globe Insurance Co. Ltd.[3]

Herbert became part of the Royal Household in 1928, with his appointment as a Gentleman Usher to King George V.[6] His appointment continued during the reigns of Edward VIII and George VI in turn;[7] in 1936 was named an aide-de-camp to the king, and the following year a groom in waiting. As part of the 1937 New Year Honours 1937 he was created a baronet, "for political and public services in Wiltshire".[8]

Personal life

Herbert lived in East Knoyle, at Knoyle House. He enjoyed gardening, shooting for recreation, and was a member of the Carlton Club.[9] He was the cousin of Sir Sidney Herbert, and served along with Vivian Smith as executor for his estate upon his 1939 death.[10] George Herbert was himself bequeathed £40,000, along with a life estate to Boyton Manor Estate and £50,000 for its upkeep;[10] his responsibilities as executor also included attending to a locked tin deed box, which the will requested be "destroyed unopened by cremating".[11]

Herbert died suddenly on 30 January 1942;[12] he had a heart attack while en route to Bath, Somerset and died at a nursing home in the city that his chauffeur drove him to.[6] He left an unsettled estate of £71,085 15s 2d, with net personalty £70,045 7s 10d.[13] After £22,075 in taxes he bequeathed £500 to Salisbury Division Conservative Association, and £250 each to a butler, gardener, chauffeur, and keeper; the remaining £41,000 he left to his mother for life, and then to the family member living at Boyton.[13] A bachelor, he left no heir to his baronetcy.[7]

References

1. "Sir George Sidney Herbert, 1st Bt; Beatrix Louisa (née Lambton), Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
2. "Colonel Sir George Herbert". Obituary. The Times (49, 148). London. 31 January 1942. p. 6. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
3. "Herbert, Col Hon. Sir George Sidney". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U226730. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
4. "The King's First Honours". The Times (36, 843). London. 11 August 1902. pp. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
5. Harris, Russell. "Herbert, Col Hon. Sir George Sidney". The Lafayette Negative Archive. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
6. "Col. Sir George Herbert, T.D." The Western Gazette (10, 669). Yeovil. 6 February 1942. p. 6. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
7. "Col. Sir George Herbert". Obituary. The Daily Telegraph (27, 035). London. 31 January 1942. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
8. "The King's First Honours". The Western Gazette (10, 408). Yeovil. 5 February 1937. p. 12. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
9. "Baronetcy for Hon. Geo. Herbert". Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald. 181 (9161). Bath. 6 February 1937. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
10. "Will of Sir Sidney Herbert". The Western Gazette (10, 532). Yeovil. 23 June 1939. p. 11. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
11. "Box Secret in £555,000 Will". The Daily Mail (13, 464). London. 20 June 1939. p. 17. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
12. "Col. Sir George Herbert". Obituary. The Financial Times (16, 498). London. 31 January 1942. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
13. "Will of Col. the Hon. Sir G. S. Herbert". The Western Gazette (10, 692). Yeovil. 17 July 1942. p. 6. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.