Lord Dartmouth Dies; Brother Assumes Title

THE Right Honorable Sir William Legge, seventh Earl of Dartmouth, died at the age of 77 at his seat, Patshull House, Wolverhampton, on February 28. He was born February 22, 1881, the eldest son of the sixth Earl of Dartmouth and Lady Mary, fourth daughter of the Earl of Leicester. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, and in 1905 married Lady Ruperta Carrington, third daughter of the Marquess of Lincolnshire.

From 1910 to 1918 Lord Dartmouth represented West Bromwich for the Conservative Party and in 1930 he was made High Bailiff of Westminster and Searcher of the Sanctuary. The ancient office of Searcher of the Sanctuary is a sinecure but certain duties still fall occasionally to the High Bailiff and it is customary for this officer along with the High Steward to attend the Dean of Westminster Abbey on ceremonial occasions. Lord Dartmouth also served as Lord Great Chamberlain, a high office within the English peerage, from 1928 until 1936 when he succeeded as seventh Earl of Dartmouth upon the death of his father.

The late peer had a son and five daughters. The son, Viscount Lewisham, was billed in action at El Alamein in 1942 and the family honors now devolve upon Lord Dartmouth's younger brother, Commander the Honorable Humphrey Legge, C.V.0., D.S.O.

Lord Dartmouth never visited Hanover but he had a genuine interest in the College bearing his family name and always cordially welcomed visitors from Dartmouth. President Dickey called upon him while in England in the spring of 1956, and at that time found him confined to his bed by illness.