William à Court-Holmes, 2nd Baron Heytesbury

Who was William à Court-Holmes, 2nd Baron Heytesbury?

William Henry Ashe à Court-Holmes later Holmes-á Court, 2nd Baron Heytesbury, was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.

Born William Henry Ashe à Court, Heytesbury was the only son of William à Court, 1st Baron Heytesbury, and Maria Rebecca Bouverie. In 1828 he went up to St John's College, Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons for the Isle of Wight in 1837, a seat he held until 1847. In 1860 he succeeded his father as second Baron Heytesbury and entered the House of Lords.

Lord Heytesbury married Elizabeth Holmes, daughter of Sir Leonard Thomas Worsley Holmes, 1st Baronet, in 1833. He assumed by Royal license the additional surname of Holmes after that of á Court at the same time. In 1860 he changed the family name, by Royal Licence, from á Court-Holmes to Holmes-á Court. Lord Heytesbury died in April 1891, aged 81, and was succeeded by his grandson William.