A HEREDITARY OFFICE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1929, Page 18

A HEREDITARY OFFICE

Among the great offices- ol: Stale there is none more interesting than that of Lord Great Chamberlain, writes tho London correspondent of tho Melbourne "Argus.-" This office was held by the Marquis of Lincolnshire, who died recently, leaving no sou, but five daughters. As the office is hold in turn by the Lincolnshire family, the Ancaster family, and the Cholmoiuloleys, there seemed room for doubt who would succeed the Marquis of Lincolnshire as Lord Great Chamberlain. It seems, however, that the office does not pass to the other families during a reign, but goes to the heir of the holder. As Lord Lincolnshire had no "heir male of his body," and since the law does not differentiate between cycler and younger daughters, all five of the Lincolnshire ladies arc regarded as co-heiresses. Since a woman cannot be Lord Great Chamberlain, the ladies have decided to vest the office for the rest of the King's reign in the third sister, Lady Buperta Wynn-Carrington, who married Viscount Lewisham, heir of the 'Earl of Dartmouth. Lord Lewisham will therefore act as Lord Great Chamberlain as deputy for his wife.