Albert Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale

This article is about British peer. For the geologist, see Albert Ernest Kitson.

Albert Ernest Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale (7 October 1863 – 11 March 1944) was a British peer. He was inter alia a director of Midlands Bank, now HSBC.

Background

Kitson was the son of James Kitson, 1st Baron Airedale, an iron and steel manufacturer in Leeds. He was educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a BA, before following his father into the family business.

Marriage and wife's family background

On 23 January 1890 at the Unitarian Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds, Kitson married Florence von Schunck (1868–1942), daughter of Edward, Baron von Schunck (1816–1889) and Kate Lupton (1832–1913).

As reported in The Yorkshire Post, wedding guests included Herbert Gladstone, son of Prime Minister William Gladstone.

Kate's first cousin, Francis Martineau Lupton, and his wife were guests at the wedding. Francis Martineau Lupton was the great great grandfather of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Kate was the daughter of Darnton Lupton who had been, like two of Kate's cousins, a Mayor of Leeds in 1844. Kate herself was sent to the school conducted by her relative Rachel Martineau.

Kate's husband, Edward, Baron von Schunck (1816–1889) was born in Leipzig; the couple marrying in 1867. By 1871, Edward had become a naturalised British subject.

Edward's great great grandfather had been raised to the Barony of the Holy Roman empire in 1719; Johann Nathanael, Baron von Schunck (1687–1742), was the Duchy of Württemberg's Ambassador to Great Britain in the early 18th century.

Johann Nathanael's grandson was Major Johann Carl Schunck, (died 1800) and another descendant was the composer Christian Darnton, (died 1981).

Title

Kitson succeeded to the titles of 2nd Baron Airedale, of Gledhow, and 2nd Baronet Kitson on 16 March 1911. As Peers of the Realm, both Lord and Lady Airedale were invited to pay homage to King George V at his coronation at Westminster Abbey on 22 June of that year. Lady Airedale's mother, Baroness von Schunck (née Kate Lupton), was also invited but she "may have been too frail to attend as she died in 1913".

Later life

Following his father's death, Lord and Lady Airedale acquired Gledhow Hall, which had been painted by J.M.W. Turner in 1816. Lord Airedale was a director of Midlands Bank, now HSBC.

The couple had seven daughters but no sons.

A music-lover, Lord Airedale was reported in 1928 as being a supporter of the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival. His nephew was composer Christian Darnton.

Lady Airedale died on 8 July 1942. Lord Airedale died on 11 March 1944 at Stansted, Essex, and the barony was inherited by his younger brother Roland.

References

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by James Kitson	Baron Airedale 1911–1944	Succeeded by Roland Kitson