Biography of William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley 1867-1932

On 24th April 1851 [his father] William Ward 1st Earl of Dudley (age 34) and Selina Constance de Burgh Baroness Ward (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Ward of Birmingham; she died seven months later.

On 21st November 1865 [his father] William Ward 1st Earl of Dudley (age 48) and [his mother] Georgina Moncrieffe Countess Dudley (age 19) were married. The difference in their ages was 29 years.

On 25th May 1867 William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley was born to William Ward 1st Earl of Dudley (age 50) and Georgina Moncrieffe Countess Dudley (age 20).

On 7th May 1885 [his father] William Ward 1st Earl of Dudley (age 68) died at Dudley House Park Lane. His son William (age 17) succeeded 2nd Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 12th Baron Ward of Birmingham.

In 1891 William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 23) and Rachel Anne Gurney Countess Dudley (age 23) were married. She by marriage Countess of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire. He the son of William Ward 1st Earl of Dudley and Georgina Moncrieffe Countess Dudley (age 44).

On 30th January 1894 [his son] William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley was born to William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 26).

In 1902 Lionel Monkton (age 40) and [his future wife] Gertie Millar (age 22) were married.

1902. James Lafayette (age 49). Photograph of William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 34).

In 1913 [his wife] Rachel Anne Gurney Countess Dudley (age 45) commissioned a new reredos at Saint Michael and All Angels Church, Great Witley [Map] from Salviati of Venice. The three lamps hanging in the sanctuary were given by the Countess in thanks for her husband (age 45) and his two brothers [[his brother] John Hubert Ward (age 42) and [his brother] Robert Arthur Ward (age 41)] returning safely from the Boer War. The initials on the mosaics appear to be those of the three brothers.

On 8th March 1919 [his son] William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley (age 25) and [his daughter-in-law] Rosemary Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (age 25) were married. She the daughter of Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 4th Duke of Sutherland and Millicent Fanny St Clair-Erskine Duchess of Sutherland (age 51). He the son of William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 51).

In 1920 Herbert Smith, a Kidderminster carpet manufacturer, bought Witley Court, Worcestershire from William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 52).

On 26th June 1920 [his wife] Rachel Anne Gurney Countess Dudley (age 52) drowned at Screebe House, Connemara. She had left the house alone to swim in the lake from which her body was later recovered.

On 15th February 1924 Lionel Monkton (age 62) died. His wife [his future wife] Gertie Millar (age 44) married William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 56) two months later.

On 30th April 1924 William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 56) and Gertrude "Gertie" Millar Countess of Dudley (age 45) were married. She by marriage Countess of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire. He the son of William Ward 1st Earl of Dudley and Georgina Moncrieffe Countess Dudley (age 77).

On 2nd February 1929 [his mother] Georgina Moncrieffe Countess Dudley (age 82) died.

On 29th June 1932 William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 65) died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son [his son] William (age 38) succeeded 3rd Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 13th Baron Ward of Birmingham.

On 25th April 1952 [his former wife] Gertrude "Gertie" Millar Countess of Dudley (age 73) died. She was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map].

[his daughter] Morvyth Lilian Ward was born to William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley.