GARRET, 7th Earl Cowley, died on Friday, June 17, after a short illness. He was 81.

It was Lord Cowley’s father, Christian Arthur, 4th Earl Cowley (1890-1962), who sold Draycot House and the Draycot Estate in 1920, at which time it encompassed 4,320 acres and covered all of Sutton Benger, Draycot Cerne, most of Seagry, and parts of Christian Malford, Kellaways and Kington Langley.

Moving initially to London and continuing his acting career, the 4th Earl later emigrated to America, settling in Nevada. It was there that he met and married his second wife, Mary Elsie Himes (1906-2003). Their eldest son, Garret, was born on June 30, 1934.

After graduating from USC, Los Angeles in 1957 Garret spent three years in the US Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. Following an MBA at Harvard Business School (1962) he started out on a career in finance and banking.

Lord Cowley unexpectedly succeeded to the title in 1975, from his nephew, Richard, 6th Earl Cowley, who had died aged just 29. He continued his financial career as group vice-president with Bank of America in London, between 1978 and 1985. He also took his seat in the House of Lords.

At about this time Lord Cowley started to take an interest in the old family estates, as their documents were deposited in various record offices around the country. He visited the Draycot Estate on a number of occasions, most recently to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, with a Wellesley family reunion and church service in September 2015.

Lord Cowley was very proud of and knowledgeable about the 1st Duke of Wellington, with whom he was connected via Arthur Wellesley’s youngest brother, Henry, 1st Baron Cowley.

On these visits to Wiltshire he also enjoyed taking photos outside ‘his pub’ – The Wellesley Arms – or walking past the sign for Cowley Way in Sutton Benger.

Lord Cowley married four times. Firstly from 1960-1966 to Elizabeth Suzanne Lennon. Secondly, from 1968-1981 to Isabelle O’Bready. Thirdly in 1981 to Paige Deming, adopting several daughters.

His funeral will took place in London on Thursday, July 7.

Lord Cowley is succeeded in the title by his son, Graham, who is the co-founder and CEO of the peer-to-peer lending firm Wellesley & Co. He also leaves his wife Carola, Countess Cowley, to whom the Earl was married in 2012, a brother Tim Wellesley, and a daughter, Tara.