Peerage Record – 61520

     Margaret Annis Best was born on 16 January 1913.¹ She was the daughter of Hon. Sir Matthew Robert Best and Annis Elizabeth Wood.² She married, firstly, Commander Alexander Pollock Gibson, son of Dr. Henry Wilkes Gibson, on 18 May 1937.¹ She married, secondly, Captain Godfrey Alexander French, son of Alexander Weatherhead French, on 17 October 1941.¹ She died on 14 February 1999 at age 86.¹
     From 18 May 1937, her married name became Gibson. From 17 October 1941, her married name became French.¹

     Dr. Henry Wilkes Gibson lived at The Gables, Emsworth, Hampshire, England.¹

     Commander Alexander Pollock Gibson was the son of Dr. Henry Wilkes Gibson.² He married Margaret Annis Best, daughter of Hon. Sir Matthew Robert Best and Annis Elizabeth Wood, on 18 May 1937.¹ He died on 23 August 1940, killed in action.¹
     He gained the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy.¹ He fought in the Second World War.¹

     Lt.-Cdr. Matthew French was born on 11 August 1945.¹ He was the son of Captain Godfrey Alexander French and Margaret Annis Best.² He married Nicola Mary McNaught, daughter of Eustace Arthur McNaught and Gertrude St. John Jones, in 1983.¹ He died on 17 February 2021 at age 75.³
     He was educated at Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset, England.¹ He was educated at Royal Naval College, Darmouth, Devon, England.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy.¹ He was appointed Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (F.R.G.S.)¹ He lived in 2003 at Beechfield Farm, Curry Rivel, Somerset, England.¹

     Eustace Arthur McNaught was born in 1922.² He married Gertrude St. John Jones.² He died in 1992.²

     Nicola Mary McNaught was born circa 1954.² She is the daughter of Eustace Arthur McNaught and Gertrude St. John Jones.^3,2 She married Lt.-Cdr. Matthew French, son of Captain Godfrey Alexander French and Margaret Annis Best, in 1983.¹
     From 1983, her married name became French.

     Annis Evelyn French was born in 1984.¹ She is the daughter of Lt.-Cdr. Matthew French and Nicola Mary McNaught.²

     Eleanor Winifred French was born in 1986.¹ She is the daughter of Lt.-Cdr. Matthew French and Nicola Mary McNaught.²

     Charlotte Imogen French was born in 1990.¹ She is the daughter of Lt.-Cdr. Matthew French and Nicola Mary McNaught.²

     David French was born on 20 June 1947.¹ He is the son of Captain Godfrey Alexander French and Margaret Annis Best.² He married Sarah Anne Halsey, daughter of Rt. Rev. Henry David Halsey and Rachel Smith, in 1974.¹
     He was educated at Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset, England.¹ He graduated from Durham University, Durham, County Durham, England, in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)¹ He was director of Relate between 1987 and 1995.¹ He was Director-General of the Commonwealth Institute between 1997 and 2001.¹ He was chief executive of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in 2003.¹ He lived in 2003 at 21 Prospect Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.¹