Peerage Record – 35550

     Michael Christopher Bowyer was born on 26 October 1926.¹ He was the son of John Francis Bowyer and Violet Shakespear.² He married Elizabeth Anne Bennett, daughter of Commander Stuart Layton Bennett, on 12 July 1952.¹ He died on 5 September 1996 at age 69.¹
     He gained the rank of officer in 1945 in the Rifle Brigade.¹ He was with Kenya Police between 1953 and 1963.¹

     Commander Stuart Layton Bennett gained the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy.¹

     Elizabeth Anne Bennett is the daughter of Commander Stuart Layton Bennett.² She married Michael Christopher Bowyer, son of John Francis Bowyer and Violet Shakespear, on 12 July 1952.¹
     From 12 July 1952, her married name became Bowyer. She lived in 2003 at 14 Exeter House, Putney Heath, London, England^G.¹

     Penelope Rosemary Joy Bowyer was born on 26 October 1926.² She was the daughter of John Francis Bowyer and Violet Shakespear.² She married Derek Langenberg in 1953.¹ She and Derek Langenberg were divorced in 1963.¹ She died on 19 December 1994 at age 68.¹
     From 1953, her married name became Langenberg. In 1968 her name was legally changed to Penelope Rosemary Joy Mountlangen by Deed Poll.²

     Derek Langenberg married Penelope Rosemary Joy Bowyer, daughter of John Francis Bowyer and Violet Shakespear, in 1953.¹ He and Penelope Rosemary Joy Bowyer were divorced in 1963.¹

     Margaret Anne Bowyer was born on 15 September 1884.¹ She was the daughter of Lt.-Col. Wentworth Grenville Bowyer and Eva Mary Lane.² She died on 19 December 1887 at age 3.¹

     Hilda Mary Bowyer was the daughter of Lt.-Col. Wentworth Grenville Bowyer and Eva Mary Lane.² She married William Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens, son of Nathaniel Spens and Emily Jessie Connal, on 15 September 1913.¹ She died on 5 March 1962.²
     From 15 September 1913, her married name became Spens. After her marriage, Hilda Mary Bowyer was styled as Baroness Spens on 20 August 1959.

     William Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens was born on 9 August 1885.² He was the son of Nathaniel Spens and Emily Jessie Connal.² He married, firstly, Hilda Mary Bowyer, daughter of Lt.-Col. Wentworth Grenville Bowyer and Eva Mary Lane, on 15 September 1913.¹ He married, secondly, Kathleen Annie Fedden Dodds, daughter of Roger Dodds, on 25 May 1963.² He died on 15 November 1973 at age 88.²
     He was educated at Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire, England.² He graduated from New College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1907 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)² He was admitted to Inner Temple in 1911 entitled to practise as a barrister.² He gained the rank of officer in the 5th Queen’s Royal Regiment.² He fought in the First World War, where he was mentioned in dispatches three times.² He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 1918.² He was appointed King’s Counsel (K.C.) in 1926.² He was member of the Imperial War Graves Commission between 1931 and 1943.² He held the office of Bencher of Inner Temple in 1933.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Conservative) for Ashford between 1933 and 1943.² He graduated from New College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1942 with a Master of Arts (M.A.)² He was appointed Knight in 1943.² He held the office of Chief Justice of India between 1943 and 1947.² He was appointed Knight of Justice Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (K.J.St.J.) in 1945.² He was appointed Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) in 1947.² He was member of the Imperial War Graves Commission between 1949 and 1965.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Conservative) for South Kensington from February 1950 to 1959.² He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1953.² He held the office of Treasurer of Inner Temple in 1958.² He was created 1st Baron Spens, of Blairnsanquhar, co. Fife [U.K.] on 20 August 1959.²

     Mildred Elizabeth Bowyer was the daughter of Lt.-Col. Wentworth Grenville Bowyer and Eva Mary Lane.² She married Lt.-Cdr. Geoffrey Bateman Hope on 27 November 1917.¹ She and Lt.-Cdr. Geoffrey Bateman Hope were divorced in 1924.¹ She died in 1966.¹
     From 27 November 1917, her married name became Hope.

     Lt.-Cdr. Geoffrey Bateman Hope married Mildred Elizabeth Bowyer, daughter of Lt.-Col. Wentworth Grenville Bowyer and Eva Mary Lane, on 27 November 1917.¹ He and Mildred Elizabeth Bowyer were divorced in 1924.¹ He died on 31 March 1929.¹
     He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy.¹