PEERAGE
Last updated 19/01/2012
Date Rank Order Name Born Died  Age
VADERA
11 Jul 2007 B[L] 1 Shriti Vadera                                                    1962
Created Baroness Vadera for life 11 Jul 2007
PC 2009                          
VAIZEY
23 Jun 1976 B[L] 1 John Ernest Vaizey 1 Oct 1929 19 Jul 1984 54
to     Created Baron Vaizey for life 23 Jun 1976
19 Jul 1984 Peerage extinct on his death
VALENCE
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Aymer de Valence c 1270 23 Jun 1324
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
23 Jun 1324 Valence 6 Feb 1299
Peerage extinct on his death
VALENTIA
24 Jun 1565 V[I] 1 Sir Donald Maccarty before 1601
to     Created Baron of Valentia amd Earl of
1597 Clancare 24 Jun 1565
  He resigned the peerages in 1597
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1 Mar 1621 V[I] 1 Sir Henry Power 25 May 1642
to     Created Viscount of Valentia
25 May 1642 1 Mar 1621
Peerage extinct on his death
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11 Mar 1622 V[I] 1 Sir Francis Annesley,1st baronet 2 Jan 1586 23 Nov 1660 74
Created Viscount of Valentia 
11 Mar 1622
23 Nov 1660 2 Arthur Annesley,Earl of Anglesey 10 Jul 1614 6 Apr 1686 71
6 Apr 1686 3 James Annesley,Earl of Anglesey 1 Apr 1690
1 Apr 1690 4 James Annesley,Earl of Anglesey c 1670 21 Jan 1702
21 Jan 1702 5 John Annesley,Earl of Anglesey 18 Sep 1710
18 Sep 1710 6 Arthur Annesley,Earl of Anglesey 1 Apr 1737
1 Apr 1737 7 Richard Annesley,Earl of Anglesey c 1690 14 Feb 1761
14 Feb 1761 8 Arthur Annesley,Earl of Mountnorris 7 Aug 1744 4 Jul 1816 71
4 Jul 1816 9 George Annesley,Earl of Mountnorris 4 Dec 1770 23 Jul 1844 73
23 Jul 1844 10 Arthur Annesley 30 Nov 1785 30 Dec 1863 78
 
30 Dec 1863 11 Arthur Annesley 23 Aug 1843 30 Jan 1927 83
Created Baron Annesley of
Bletchington 7 May 1917
  MP for Oxford 1895-1917  
 
30 Jan 1927 12 Carlyl Arthur James Annesley 3 Jul 1883 6 Oct 1949 66
     
6 Oct 1949 13 William Monckton Annesley 23 Jan 1875 26 Feb 1951 76
       
26 Feb 1951 14 Francis Dighton Annesley 12 Aug 1888 16 Mar 1983 94
     
16 Mar 1983 15 Richard John Dighton Annesley 15 Aug 1929 20 Aug 2005 76
20 Aug 2005 16 Francis William Dighton Annesley 29 Dec 1959
   
   
 
VALENTINE
10 Oct 2005 B[L] 1 Josephine Clare Valentine
Created Baroness Valentine for life
10 Oct 2005
VALLANCE OF TUMMEL
22 Jun 2004 B[L] 1 Iain David Thomas Vallance 20 May 1943
Created Baron Vallance of Tummel for life
22 Jun 2004
  VANE  
 
 
13 Sep 1720 V[I] 1 William Vane 17 Feb 1682 20 May 1734 52
Created Viscount Vane 13 Sep 1720
MP for Durham Co 1708-1710,Steyning 1727-
1734 and Kent 1734
20 May 1734 2 William Holles Vane 4 Feb 1714 5 Apr 1789 75
to     Peerage extinct on his death
5 Apr 1789
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28 Mar 1823 E 1 Charles William Vane 18 May 1778 6 Mar 1854 75
Created Baron Stewart of Stewart's
Court 1 Jul 1814,and Viscount Seaham
and Earl Vane 28 Mar 1823
6 Mar 1854
2 George Henry Robert Charles 
Vane-Tempest 26 Apr 1821 5 Nov 1884 63
He succeeded as 5th Marquess of Londonderry
(qv) in 1872, since which time the titles have
remained united
VANSITTART
3 Jul 1941 B 1 Robert Gilbert Vansittart 25 Jun 1881 14 Feb 1957 75
to     Created Baron Vansittart 3 Jul 1941
14 Feb 1957 PC 1940
Peerage extinct on his death
VARLEY
30 May 1990 B[L] 1 Eric Graham Varley 11 Aug 1932 29 Jul 2008 75
to     Created Baron Varley for life 30 May 1990
29 Jul 2008 MP for Chesterfield 1964-1984. Minister of
State,Technology 1969-1970. Secretary of
State for Energy 1974-1975. Secretary of
State for Technology 1975-1979.  PC 1974
Peerage extinct on his death
VAUGHAN OF EMLYN
25 Oct 1643 B 1 Richard Vaughan,Earl of Carbery 3 Dec 1687
Created Baron Vaughan of Emlyn
25 Oct 1643
See "Carbery"
VAUGHAN OF MULLENGAR
5 Aug 1628 B[I] 1 John Vaughan c 1574 6 May 1634
Created Baron Vaughan of Mullengar
13 Jul 1621 and Earl of Carbery
5 Aug 1628
See "Carbery"
VAUX OF HARROWDEN
27 Apr 1523 B 1 Sir Nicholas Vaux c 1460 14 May 1523
Created Baron Vaux of Harrowden
27 Apr 1523
14 May 1523 2 Thomas Vaux 25 Apr 1509 Oct 1556 47
Oct 1556 3 William Vaux 14 Aug 1535 20 Aug 1595 60
20 Aug 1595 4 Edward Vaux 13 Sep 1588 8 Sep 1661 72
8 Sep 1661 5 Henry Vaux 1591 20 Sep 1663 72
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
20 Sep 1663
12 Mar 1838 6 George Charles Mostyn 7 Mar 1804 28 Jan 1883 78
Abeyance terminated in his favour 1838
28 Jan 1883 7 Hubert George Charles Mostyn 4 Jun 1860 24 Oct 1935 75
to     On his death the peerage again fell into 
24 Oct 1935 abeyance
8 Jul 1938 8 Grace Mary Eleanor Gilbey 22 May 1887 11 May 1958 70
Abeyance terminated in her favour 1938
11 May 1958 9 Peter Hubert Gordon Gilbey 28 Jun 1914 1 Nov 1977 63
1 Nov 1977 10 John Hugh Philip Gilbey 4 Aug 1915 31 Aug 2002 87
31 Aug 2002 11 Anthony William Gilbey 25 May 1940
VAVASOUR
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Sir William le Vavasour 22 Mar 1313
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Vavasour 6 Feb 1299
22 Mar 1313 2 Walter le Vavasour c 1280 7 Dec 1315
7 Dec 1315 3 Robert le Vavasour 24 Jul 1322
24 Jul 1322 4 Henry le Vavasour c 1290 1 Dec 1342
1 Dec 1342 5 Henry le Vavasour 27 Nov 1349
27 Nov 1349 6 Henry Vavasour c 1329 25 May 1355
25 May 1355 7 William Vavasour 1334 8 Sep 1369 25
8 Sep 1369 8 William Vavasour c 1358 c 1387
c 1387 9 Henry Vavasour 27 Mar 1413
27 Mar 1413 10 Henry Vavasour c 1402 Jan 1453
Jan 1453 11 Henry Vavasour 22 Dec 1499
22 Dec 1499 12 William Vavasour 26 Mar 1500
26 Mar 1500 13 Henry Vavasour c 1456 1 Nov 1515
1 Nov 1515 14 John Vavasour 11 Aug 1524
11 Aug 1524 15 William Vavasour 20 Nov 1514 9 May 1566 51
9 May 1566 16 John Vavasour 1538 1609 71
1609 17 Ralph Vavasour c 1611
c 1611 18 William Vavasour 1569 c 1623
c 1623 19 Thomas Vavasour
nothing further known
VENTRY
31 Jul 1800 B[I] 1 Sir Thomas Mullins,1st baronet 25 Oct 1736 11 Jan 1824 87
Created Baron Ventry 31 Jul 1800
11 Jan 1824 2 William Townsend Mullins 25 Sep 1761 5 Oct 1827 66
5 Oct 1827 3 Thomas Townsend Aremberg de Moleyns Jan 1786 20 Jan 1868 82
20 Jan 1868 4 Dayrolles Blakeney Eveleigh-de-Moleyns 22 Jan 1828 8 Feb 1914 86
8 Feb 1914 5 Frederick Rossmore Wauchope Eveleigh-
de-Moleyns 11 Dec 1861 22 Sep 1923 61
22 Sep 1923 6 Arthur William Eveleigh-de-Moleyns 6 Apr 1864 6 Jul 1936 72
6 Jul 1936 7 Arthur Frederick Daubeney Olav
Eveleigh-de-Moleyns 28 Jul 1898 7 Mar 1987 88
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
7 Mar 1987 8 Andrew Harold Wesley Daubeny de Moleyns 28 May 1943
VERDON
24 Jun 1295 B 1 Theobald de Verdon 24 Aug 1309
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Verdon 24 Jun 1295
24 Aug 1309 2 Theobald Verdon 27 Jul 1316
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
27 Jul 1316
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27 Jan 1332 B 1 John de Verdon 24 Jun 1299 after 1377
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Verdon 27 Jan 1332
after 1377 2 Margaret de Verdon 24 Nov 1436
24 Nov 1436 3 Elizabeth Bradshagh after 1436
after 1436 4 William Harrington 12 Aug 1487
12 Aug 1487 5 James Harrington 1447 26 Jun 1497 49
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
26 Jun 1497
VERE
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Hugh de Vere c 1319
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
c 1319 Vere 6 Feb 1299
Peerage extinct on his death
VERE OF HANWORTH
28 Mar 1750 B 1 Lord Vere Beauclerk 14 Jul 1699 2 Oct 1781 82
Created Baron Vere of Hanworth
28 Mar 1750
MP for Windsor 1726-1741 and Plymouth
1741-1750. Lord Lieutenant Berkshire 1761-1771
2 Oct 1781 2 Aubrey Beauclerk 3 Jun 1740 9 Feb 1802 61
He succeeded to the Dukedom of St.Albans
(qv) in 1787 with which title this peerage
then merged
VERE OF TILBURY
24 Jul 1625 B 1 Sir Horace Vere 1565 2 May 1635 69
to     Created Baron Vere of Tilbury
2 May 1635 24 Jul 1625
Peerage extinct on his death
VERMA
2 Jun 2006 B[L] 1 Sandip Verma  
Created Baroness Verma for life 2 Jun 2006
VERNEY
16 Jun 1703 B[I] 1 Sir John Verney 5 Nov 1640 23 Jul 1717 76
Created Baron Verney and Viscount of 
the County of Fermanagh 16 Jun 1703
23 Jul 1717 2 Ralph Verney 18 Mar 1683 4 Oct 1752 69
22 Mar 1743 E[I] 1 Created Earl Verney 22 Mar 1743
  MP for Amersham 1717-1741 and Wendover
1741-1752
4 Oct 1752 2 Ralph Verney 1 Feb 1714 31 Mar 1791 77
to     MP for Wendover 1753-1761,Carmarthen
31 Mar 1791 1761-1768 and Buckinghamshire 1768-1784 and
1790-1791  PC 1765
Peerages extinct on his death
VERNON
12 May 1762 B 1 George Venables-Vernon 9 Feb 1707 21 Aug 1780 73
Created Baron Vernon 12 May 1762
MP for Lichfield 1731-1747 and Derby
1754-1761
21 Aug 1780 2 George Venables-Vernon 9 May 1735 18 Jun 1813 78
MP for Weobly 1757-1761, Bramber 1762-
1768 and Glamorganshire 1768-1780
18 Jun 1813 3 Henry Venables-Vernon 17 Apr 1747 20 Mar 1829 81
20 Mar 1829 4 George Charles Venables-Vernon 4 Dec 1779 18 Nov 1835 55
18 Nov 1835 5 George John Venables-Vernon 22 Jun 1803 31 May 1866 62
MP for Derbyshire 1831-1832 and 
Derbyshire South 1832-1835
31 May 1866 6 Augustus Henry Venables-Vernon 1 Feb 1829 1 May 1883 54
1 May 1883 7 George William Henry Venables-Vernon 25 Feb 1854 15 Dec 1898 44
PC 1892
15 Dec 1898 8 George Francis Augustus Venables-Vernon 28 Sep 1888 10 Nov 1915 27
10 Nov 1915 9 Francis Lawrance William Venables-Vernon 6 Nov 1889 18 Mar 1963 73
18 Mar 1963 10 John Lawrence Venables-Vernon 1 Feb 1923 19 Aug 2000 77
19 Aug 2000 11 Anthony William Vernon-Harcourt 29 Oct 1939
VERULAM
11 Jul 1618 B 1 Francis Bacon 22 Jan 1561 9 Apr 1626 65
to     Created Baron Verulam 11 Jul 1618 
9 Apr 1626 and Viscount Saint Albans 27 Jan 1621
MP for Melcombe Regis 1584-1586, Taunton
1586-1587, Liverpool 1588-1589, Middlesex
1592-1593, Ipswich 1597-1598, 1601,1604-
1611 and Cambridge 1614. Solicitor General
1607-1613. Attorney General 1613-1617.
Lord Chancellor 1618-1621.
Peerages extinct on his death
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8 Jul 1790 B 1 James Bucknall Grimston,Viscount Grimston  9 May 1747 30 Dec 1808 61
Created Baron Verulam 8 Jul 1790
MP for St.Albans 1783-1784 and 
Hertfordshire 1784-1790
24 Nov 1815 E 1 James Walter Grimston,Viscount Grimston 26 Sep 1775 17 Nov 1845 70
Created Viscount Grimston and Earl of
Verulam 24 Nov 1815
He had previously succeeded as 10th Lord
Forrester  (qv) in 1808
MP for St.Albans 1802-1808. Lord
Lieutenant Hertfordshire 1823-1845
17 Nov 1845 2 James Walter Grimston 22 Feb 1809 27 Jul 1895 86
MP for St.Albans 1830-1831, Newport (Cornwall)
1831-1832 and Hertfordshire 1832-1845.
Lord Lieutenant Hertfordshire 1846-1892
27 Jul 1895 3 James Walter Grimston 11 May 1852 11 Nov 1924 72
MP for St.Albans 1885-1892
11 Nov 1924 4 James Walter Grimston 17 Apr 1880 29 Nov 1949 69
29 Nov 1949 5 James Brabazon Grimston 11 Oct 1910 13 Oct 1960 50
13 Oct 1960 6 John Grimston 17 Jul 1912 15 Apr 1973 60
MP for St.Albans 1943-1945 and 1950-1959
15 Apr 1973 7 John Duncan Grimston 21 Apr 1955
VESCI
24 Jun 1295 B 1 William de Vesci 19 Sep 1245 19 Jul 1297 51
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
19 Jul 1297 Vesci 24 Jun 1295
Chief Governor of Ireland 1290-1293
Peerage extinct on his death
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8 Jan 1313 B 1 William de Vesci 24 Jun 1314
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
24 Jun 1314 Vesci 8 Jan 1313
Peerage extinct on his death
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24 Jan 1449 B 1 Sir Henry Bromflete 16 Jan 1469
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
16 Jan 1469 Vesci 24 Jan 1449
Peerage extinct on his death
VESTEY
20 Jun 1922 B 1 Sir William Vestey,1st baronet 21 Jan 1859 10 Dec 1940 81
Created Baron Vestey 20 Jun 1922
10 Dec 1940 2 Samuel Vestey 25 Dec 1882 4 May 1954 71
4 May 1954 3 Samuel George Armstrong Vestey 19 Mar 1941
VICKERS
27 Jan 1975 B[L] 1 Joan Helen Vickers 3 Jun 1907 23 May 1994 86
to     Created Baroness Vickers for life 27 Jan 1975
23 May 1994 MP for Devonport 1955-1974
Peerage extinct on her death
VILLIERS
27 Aug 1616 V 1 George Villiers 28 Aug 1592 23 Aug 1628 35
Created Baron Whaddon and Viscount
Villiers 27 Aug 1616,Earl of
Buckingham 5 Jan 1617,Marquess of
Buckingham 1 Jan 1618 and Earl of 
Coventry and Duke of Buckingham 
18 May 1623
See "Buckingham"
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18 Apr 1623 B 1 Christopher Villiers 3 Apr 1630
Created Baron Villiers and Earl of 
Anglesey 18 Apr 1623
See "Anglesey"
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20 Mar 1691 V 1 Edward Villiers c 1656 25 Aug 1711
Created Baron Villiers and Viscount
Villiers 20 Mar 1691, and Earl of Island
of Jersey 13 Oct 1697
See "Jersey"
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19 Feb 1767 V[I] 1 Elizabeth Mason 29 May 1782
Created Viscountess Grandison
10 Apr 1746 and Viscountess Villiers
and Countess Grandison 19 Feb 1767
See "Grandison"
VINCENT OF COLESHILL
3 Sep 1996 B[L] 1 Richard Frederick Vincent 23 Aug 1931
Created Baron Vincent of Coleshill for life
3 Sep 1996
Field Marshal. Chief of the Defence Staff
1991-1992
VINSON
7 Feb 1985 B[L] 1 Nigel Vinson 27 Jan 1931
Created Baron Vinson for life 7 Feb 1985
VIVIAN
19 Aug 1841 B 1 Sir Richard Hussey Vivian,1st baronet 28 Jul 1775 20 Aug 1842 67
Created Baron Vivian 19 Aug 1841
MP for Truro 1820-1826 and 1832-1835,
Windsor 1826-1831 and Cornwall East
1837-1841. PC [I] 1831  PC 1835
20 Aug 1842 2 Charles Crespigny Vivian 24 Dec 1808 24 Apr 1886 77
MP for Bodmin 1835-1842. Lord Lieutenant
Cornwall 1856-1877
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page
24 Apr 1886 3 Henry Crespigny Vivian 19 Jun 1834 21 Oct 1893 59
PC 1893
21 Oct 1893 4 George Crespigny Brabazon Vivian 21 Jan 1878 28 Dec 1940 62
28 Dec 1940 5 Anthony Crespigny Claude Vivian 4 Mar 1906 24 Jun 1991 85
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page
24 Jun 1991 6 Nicholas Crespigny Lawrence Vivian 11 Dec 1935 28 Feb 2004 68
28 Feb 2004 7 Charles Crespigny Hussey Vivian 20 Dec 1966
Arthur Frederick Daubeney Olav Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 7th Baron Ventry
Ventry was educated at Wellington College, where he became interested in balloons. During 
World War I, he transferred from the Irisg Guards to the County of London Balloon Squadron
in the Auxiliary Air Force. In World War II he served as a Flight Lieutenant in Balloon Command.
After the war he became an advocate for the advantages of balloons over aircraft. A balloon,
for instance, would make an ideal observation post from which to spot the Loch Ness Monster.
In 1949, he began to build the Bournemouth, the first airship to be built in Britain since the
crash of the R 101 in 1930. On 19 July 1951 the Bournemouth was ready to take its first flight
at the RAF Balloon Centre at Cardington, Bedfordshire. The flight was reasonably successful, 
being airborne for 18 minutes, although on landing the crew reported that it was stern-heavy 
and difficult to get down. After making some modifications, a second flight occurred on 16
August 1951. As the airship was coming in to land, it approached a too low a height and one of
the guy ropes caught the railings on a workshop roof, bringing the airship to a sudden halt.
The balloon's gondola struck the roof, but no-one was injured. 
Ventry commented 'Perfectly ordinary flight. Then one of the handling guy ropes caught on the
catwalk and there we sat like a broody hen. Chance in a million.'
Charles Crespigny Vivian, 2nd Baron Vivian
The 2nd Baron Vivian was well-known in his day as a result of a remarkable dream which 
predicted the result of a horse race. 
In April 1879 there occurred the death of General Richard Taylor, son of the former President
of the United States, Zachary Taylor, and a General in the Confederate cause in the American
Civil War. As part of its death notice, the 'Daily Telegraph' included the following story:-
'On the morning of the day when the City and Suburban Handicap was won by Aldrich [on 28
April 1874], a little fancied outsider, it so chanced that General Taylor travelled down to Epsom
in company with Lord Vivian, and heard from him that it was his intention to back Lord 
Rosebery's horse, because he had dreamt that he saw the primrose and rose hoops borne to
victory in the race which they were on their road to witness. Acting upon this hint, General
Taylor took a thousand to thirty about Aldrich, and was not a little elated at the success of
what he justly called "a leap in the dark." But for the accident which caused Lemnos, another
much-backed candidate for the race, to fall at Tattenham Corner, there is a little probability
that the dream of Lord Vivian would have found the interpretation upon which General Taylor
counted.'
As a result of General Taylor's death notice, Lord Vivian wrote to the 'Daily Telegraph' the
following letter:-
'Sir - In your 'leader' on General Taylor, in this day's paper, you introduce an anecdote relative
to a dream of mine. The facts are these:- I did dream, on the morning of the race for the City
and Suburban Handicap, that I had fallen asleep in the weighing-room of the Stand at Epsom,
prior to that race, and that after it had been run, I was awakened by a gentleman - the owner
of another horse in the race - who informed me that the Teacher had won. Of this horse, so 
far as my recollection serves me, I had never before heard. On reaching Victoria Station, the
first person I saw was the gentleman who had appeared to me in my dream, and to him I
mentioned it, observing that I could not find any horse so named in the race. He replied,
'There is a horse now called Aldrich, who was previously called the Teacher.' The dream had so
vividly impressed me, that I declared my intention of backing Aldrich for £100, and was in course
of doing this when I was questioned by his owner as to 'why I was backing his horse.' I replied,
'because I had dreamt he had won the race.' To this I was answered, 'As aginst your dream, I
will tell you this fact - I tried the horse last week with a hurdle-jumper, and he was beaten a 
distance,' I thanked my informant, and discontinued backing Aldrich. General Taylor, who had
overheard what passed, asked me, if I did not intend backing the horse again for myself, to
win him £1,000 by him. This I did by taking for him 1,000 to 30 about Aldrich. Such is the true
account of my dream, and of General Taylor's profit from it. - Yours faithfully, VIVIAN'
Anthony Crespigny Claude Vivian, 5th Baron Vivian
The 5th Lord Vivian was at the centre of a scandal in the latter half of 1954 after he had been
shot by his lover. The case featured prominently in the newspapers, but I have contented
myself with the following summary, which appeared in 'The Washington Post and Times Herald'
of 1 May 1955, at the time of Lord Vivian's lover's release from prison:-
'The car stopped in front of a thatched cottage in the little village of Potterne, England [near
Devizes in Wiltshire]. A man and a woman stepped out and hurried up the walk, as though they
were afraid of being observed. The door closed behind them. They were back once more in the
cozy retreat where a pistol shot had first publicized their defiance of convention. Meanwhile,
Britishers wondered whether the moral code, which they are expected to live by and which 
these two, Lord Vivian and his so-called "Golden Girl" had brazenly flouted, would now destroy
the romance a bullet couldn't kill. 
'The last time the couple had entered the cottage together was under different circumstances
and in a gayer mood. Lord Vivian, a handsome 48-year-old baron with a wife and family was
"somewhat drunk" then and his companion, Mrs. Mavis Wheeler, a fetching blond divorcee, was
"a bit muzzy." They had been celebrating the start of a country week end. 
 
'The cottage belonged to Mrs. Wheeler. Her first husband was Horace de Vere Cole [1881-1936],
wealthy brother of Mrs. Neville Chamberlain and a perpetual wit who was called "King of the 
Practical Jokers." After his death in 1936, she was married for three years to Mortimer Wheeler 
[1890-1976] who was later knighted for his research in archeology. England's best painters vied
to paint her portrait. They called her the Golden Girl. 
'She met the baron late in 1953. He was Anthony Crespigny Claude Vivian, Tony to his friends.
He had been educated at Eton before going to Canada as a student farmer. He moved on to San
Francisco, became a call boy in a theater, went into theater publicity and finally emerged as a
theatrical producer in London. In 1930 he married Victoria Oliphant, a Navy captain's daughter, 
by whom he had two sons and a daughter. 
 
'Despite all this, it was "love at first sight" for the baron and the Golden Girl. She sent him back 
to his family for the Christmas holidays, but as soon as they were over he disappeared as quickly 
as the tree. He returned to her London apartment and went on living there illicitly until it was 
time to take off for Potterne last July. 
'No sooner had they unpacked than they walked down the lane to the George and Dragon tavern
for a few drinks. They had some sherry at the home of friends, returned to the tavern for some
stout and finally arrived back at Pilgrim Cottage about 10 p.m. so hilarious that when the key
seemed hard to locate they laughingly climbed in through a window. 
'About half an hour later Mrs. Wheeler phoned hysterically for an ambulance, which arrived to
find Lord Vivian lying in the garden, shot in the stomach. He was hospitalized and she was
was arrested, charged with shooting him in a jealous rage. 
'When she went on trial two months later, Lord Vivian had recovered sufficiently to testify. The
accounts of both principals agreed up to the point of the shooting. After they had climbed in
in the window, they hugged and kissed and Mrs. Wheeler went to the kitchen to prepare a meal.
The baron, without her knowledge, returned to the George and Dragon. He reappeared a few
minutes later at the open window. 
"In a joking voice, I heard him say 'Stick 'em up,' " Mrs. Wheeler testified. "Then he said, 'Look
what I've brought you,' and held up two bottles of stout. He had a pistol in his hand, my pistol,
and he was laughing about it. 
 
"I said. 'Oh, it probably won't go off. It's rusty.'  I took it from him and pointed it at the fireplace
and pulled the trigger. It did go off. I was quite astonished and fired again. Lord Vivian said, 
'Stop it. You are frightening Mr. Pip' (her dog). I said, 'Just one more' and he tried to take the 
gun from me and it went off. I had no idea of shooting him." 
 
'Lord Vivian, obviously pained to be disagreeing with Mrs. Wheeler, had a somewhat different
account. When he arrived back at the cottage with the two bottles of stout, he said, "Darling,
I am coming in" and put his leg through the window. Then there was a shot. I said something to
the effect of 'Don't be silly, darling; put that revolver down.'
'Then he heard another report. He thought there were three shots altogether and the second
or third must have hit him. 
"I think I pushed myself out of the window and said, 'Darling, I am in pain; can you call an
ambulance?' She seemed to come from nowhere and did everything possible for me. We 
comforted each other until the ambulance arrived."
'Lady Vivian, accompanied by her 18-year-old son, Nicholas, was in court to hear her husband
say he was dearly in love with Mrs. Wheeler (courts have to listen to all sorts of nonsense).
Mrs. Wheeler's son by her first marriage, Tristen de Vere Cole, a 19-year-old naval cadet, heard
his mother testify that she truly loved Lord Vivian. 
'Mrs. Wheeler was acquitted of a deliberate attempt at murder but convicted of "unlawfully and
maliciously wounding" Lord Vivian. She was sentenced to six months in prison.
 
'When she was released from prison four months later, with time off for good behavior - better, 
in fact, than she had exhibited on the outside - Lord Vivian was waiting for her.
 
"I think we know each other a good deal better now," the baron said. "We are eternally in love."
'The baron must have been aware that there was little public sympathy for his troubles and that
people frowned on his "romantic" behavior. But he didn't seem to mind. The matter of a divorce,
he said, was up to his wife. 
'And there his ricochet romance rests at the moment. The whole thing, some of their 
acquaintances feel, might have been a tasteless bit of tomfoolery dreamed up by Mrs. Wheeler's
first husband, the practical joker.'
 
Copyright @ 2003-2012  Leigh Rayment