Barry Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham

Who was Barry Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham?

The Rt. Hon. Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham, was an Irish peer and a Nova Scotia baronet.

The 12th Lord Farnham was the son of Somerset Arthur Maxwell, and grandson of Arthur Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham. He was educated at Eton and Harvard Business School. On his grandfather's death, he succeeded as 12th Baron Farnham and 15th Baronet of Calderwood. He held office in the United Grand Lodge of England as Senior Grand Warden 1977-78, Assistant Grand Master 1982-89, Deputy Grand Master 1989-91, and Pro Grand Master 1991-2001.

He was due to retire on or about his 70th birthday, but before his retirement he died on the 22 March 2001 and was succeeded in the barony by his brother, Simon Kenlis Maxwell, who lived in England.

His wife, Diana, Baroness Farnham, is a current Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II. Lady Farnham rode alongside the Queen on the way to the Diamond Jubilee service on 5 June 2012 in the absence of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The current Farnham House, built around 1780 by Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham and designed by James Wyatt was recently sold by Lady Farnham to a local entrepreneur.