Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl BeauchampPCDL (10 November 1830 – 19 February 1891), styled The Honourable Frederick Lygon between 1853 and 1866, was a British Conservative politician.
In addition to his political duties Frederick Lygon also found time to be a great philanthropist. He was one of the founders of Malvern Boys' College and later a chairman of the college council. He was also the driving force behind the building of the Almshouses and St Leonards Church at Newland, consecrated in 1864,[2][3] conceived by his uncle John Reginald Pindar and his wife Charlotte. Frederick also finished the building of the church at Madresfield consecrated in 1867[4] which was the gift of Henry 5th Earl Beauchamp who had died before the work was completed.
Beauchamp was also the second President of the Folklore Society, serving in that role between 1880 and 1885.[5] Even though he was one of the longest serving Presidents of the Society, It has been suggested that his links with the Society should be seen more as "aristocratic patronage" rather than active academic interest.[6]
Lord Beauchamp married Lady Mary Stanhope (3 February 1844 – 30 June 1876), daughter of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope, and his wife Emily Harriet Kerrison, at St George's Church in Hanover Square, London, on 18 February 1868. They had five children:
Lady Mary Trefusis (26 February 1869 – 12 September 1927), married 1905 Lt.-Col. Henry Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis (a son of the 20th Baron Clinton) and had issue. Lady Mary was a close friend and correspondent of her brother Lord Beauchamp. She was a friend and promoter of the composer Edward Elgar and is thought to be commemorated anonymously in one of his Enigma Variations entitled "Romanza (***)". She was the first President of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Trefusis Hall in the EFDSS HQ, Cecil Sharp House, is named for her. She was also Lady in Waiting to Queen Mary.[9]
Lady Beauchamp died on 30 June 1876, and on 24 September 1878 Lord Beauchamp married Lady Emily Pierrepont (16 March 1853 – 11 May 1935), daughter of the 3rd Earl Manvers and his wife Georgiana Jane E. F. de Franquetot, at Perlethorpe in Nottinghamshire. They had four children, two sons and two daughters.
Hon. Robert Lygon (9 August 1879 – 13 January 1952); m. 10 October 1903 Cecil Albinia Arbuthnot, daughter of Sir George Gough Arbuthnot; they had issue, one son Reginald (who died in 1976, aged 72, shortly before his half-cousin the 8th Earl; he had only daughters).
Hon. Henry Lygon (10 April 1884 – 23 February 1936) who died unmarried aged 51.
Lady Agnes Lygon (7 December 1880 – 1960); m. 1906 Hon. Arthur George Villiers Peel (27 Feb 1868 – 25 Apr 1956), and had issue.
Lord Beauchamp died on 19 February 1891,[12] aged 60, at his home, Madresfield Court, from a heart attack he suffered at dinner that night. His eighteen-year-old eldest son William succeeded him in the earldom. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin Madresfield near the south east corner of the church alongside his first wife Mary;[13] his second wife Emily was later interred on his other side. In his will he had expressly forbidden any tribute or monument.[14]
