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Grey Gowrie

The Right Honourable
The Earl of Gowrie
PC FRSL
Coronet of a British Earl.svg
Earl of Gowrie COA.svg
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office
11 September 1984 – 2 September 1985
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by The Lord Cockfield
Succeeded by Norman Tebbit
Minister of State for the Arts
In office
11 June 1983 – 2 September 1985
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by Paul Channon
Succeeded by Richard Luce
Personal details
Born (1939-11-26) 26 November 1939 (age 77)
Ireland
Political party Conservative
Alma mater Eton College
Balliol College, Oxford
Harvard University

Alexander Patrick Greysteil Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie, PC, FRSL (born 26 November 1939), usually known as Grey Gowrie, is a Scottish hereditary peer. He was a Conservative Party politician for some years, including a period in the British Cabinet, and was later Chairman of Sotheby's and of the Arts Council of England. He has also published poetry. Lord Gowrie is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Ruthven.

Ruthven was born in Ireland, the elder son of Major the Honourable Patrick Hore-Ruthven, only surviving son of the 1st Baron Gowrie and his wife Lady Gowrie. His mother was Pamela Margaret Fletcher (who later married Major Derek Cooper. His younger brother is Malise Ruthven.

His father was killed in action in 1942, at which point he became his grandfather's heir apparent. When his grandfather, who had been the Governor General of Australia, was created Earl of Gowrie in 1945 he became known by the courtesy title Viscount Ruthven of Canberra. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, and later at Harvard University. He succeeded in the earldom of Gowrie on the death of his grandfather on 2 May 1955, and also succeeded his great-uncle (his grandfather's elder brother) the 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland as 3rd Baron Ruthven of Gowrie on 16 April 1956 (the Scottish lordship of Ruthven of Freeland passed instead via the female line). Lord Gowrie inherited Castlemartin House and Estate at Kilcullen, County Kildare, Ireland, from his great-aunt Sheelagh Blacker in 1967, and later sold it to Tony O'Reilly.


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