The Hon. Ernest Bowes-Lyons

Born on 4 August 1858, the Honourable Ernest Bowes-Lyon was the third of the seven sons of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore.

He married Isobel Hester Drummond, daughter of Harvey Drummond, on 23 November 1882. Their marriage produced six children before Ernest’s early death, aged only 33, on 27 December 1891 at Belgrade in modern-day Serbia after being thrown from his horse.

According to the Shields Daily Gazette (26 December 1891), ‘The Hon. Ernest Bowes-Lyon, British Secretary of Legation at Belgrade, died yesterday morning. While out riding Mr Lyon was thrown from his horse, and received such severe injuries that from the first there was little hope of his life being saved. The deceased gentleman was the third son of the Earl of Strathmore. […] He had been in Her Majesty’s diplomatic service since 1884.’

Photographer unidentified.