OBITUARY

THE EARL OF ROSEBERY

Distinguished soldier, politician,

administrator and sportsman

The Earl of Rosebery, KT, PC. DSO, MC, died yesterday at the age of 92.

Although never deeply enmeshed in politics, Rosebery was for a time a Liberal MP. a leader of the National Liberals, and was a member of Sir Winston Churchill's war-time administration, first as Regional Commissioner for Scotland. and then as Secretary of State. He was a shrewd owner of great estates in England and Scotland, and the knowledgeable possessor of many art treasures. He added lustre to his father's name on the Turf. In his youth he had been an outstanding games player. Had circumstances permitted it, he would probably have made a remarkable military career. His was a life in some respects almost as varied as that of his famous father, and he was, in his own right, a remarkable man.

Albert EdWard Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose (" names enough in all conscience ". as his father remarked), sixth Earl of Rosebery, was born on January 8. 1882, at Dalmeny House, and was the elder son of the fifth Earl.

He was the heir to truly vast possessions. His parents' marriage had brought together the considerable Rosebery estates in* Scotland and the wealth and properties of Baron Meyer de Rothschild whose only daughter was perhaps the greatest heiress of her time. The family moved between Dalmeny, Mentmore, The Durdans, and 38 Berkeley Square. Later, there was the beautiful Villa Rosebery at Posilipio, which Rosebery presented to the Italian Government in 1932. None of these imposing establishments was administered with undue regard to economy, and the splendour of the Rosebery grande tenue was legendary and even intimidating, The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) .was one of the new heir's godfathers.

Rosebery, both in appearance and personality, grew up almost as unlike his taut, febrile, introspective, brilliant father as could seem possible. Although he was highly intelligent, spirited, and strong-willed, it was his younger brother, Neil Primrose, who had defiffitely-in. herited the father's glamour and flair. Although Rosebery's relationship with his father was always close, that between Neil and the fifth Earl was, as Lord Birkenhead has written, more like that between brothers, and " was among the most touching in a life full of idealized love ". Neil Primrose's death in action in 1917, after a brief but richly promising political career, was a blow from which the father never recovered.

After leaving Eton, Rosebery went to the Royal Military Academy and was commissioned in the Grenadier Guards. But in 1903, at his father's insistence, he very reluctantly resigned his commission to stand as Liberal candidate for Midlothian, which he represented from 1906 to 1910. Sir Henry CampbellBannerman, in an attempt to heal old wounds, invited him to second the Address at the opening of the new Parliament. but his father peremptorily forbade him to accept...