John Lytton, 5th Earl of Lytton

John Peter Michael Scawen Lytton, 5th Earl of Lytton, DL, FRICS, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 7 June 1950), styled Viscount Knebworth between 1951 and 1985, is a British surveyor and House of Lords member.

Background and education

Lytton is the son of Noel Lytton, 4th Earl of Lytton. He is a descendant of the poet and adventurer Lord Byron (born 1788), via his daughter Ada Lovelace (born 1815), arguably the world's first computer programmer. Her daughter Anne (born 1837) married the poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt; their daughter Judith Blunt-Lytton was Noel's mother and thus John's grandmother. He was educated at Downside School and graduated from the University of Reading with a BSc honours degree in Estate Management, in 1972. He is a descendent of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, too.

Career

After spending thirteen years in the Inland Revenue Valuation Office and some additional years with surveying firms Permutt Brown & Co and Cubitt & West, he set up the practice of John Lytton & Co., Chartered Surveyors, in January, 1988. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1985. He lost his seat in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. However, on 11 May 2011 he won a hereditary peer by-election and regained his seat there, where he sits as a crossbencher, i.e. not a member of a political party.

Lord Lytton has taken his Byronic descent to heart and has contributed to the Newstead Byron Society Review. He has also spoken before the Byron Society on his family history.

Furthermore, he now works part-time in the construction industry.

Family

Lord Lytton married Ursula Alexandra Komoly in 1980. They have four children. He inherited Newbuildings Place in 1984 from his aunt, Lady Anne Lytton. His cousins maintain the family estate, Knebworth House. He is a Deputy Lieutenant for West Sussex.

Family of John Lytton, 5th Earl of Lytton

16. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803 - 1873)               8. (Edward) Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton (1831 - 1891)                       17. Rosina Doyle Wheeler (1802 - 1882)               4. Neville Bulwer-Lytton, 3rd Earl of Lytton (1879 - 1951)                             18. Hon. Edward Ernest Villiers (1806 - 1843)               9. Edith Villiers Vicereign of India (died 1936)                       19. Hon. Elizabeth Charlotte Liddell (died 1890)               2. Noel Lytton, 4th Earl of Lytton (1900 - 1985)                                   20. Francis Scawen Blunt (1790-1842)               10. Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (1840 - 1922)                       21. Mary Chandler (1806 - 1855)               5. Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth (died 1957)                             22. William King, 1st Earl of Lovelace (1805 - 1893)               11. Lady Anne Blunt (1837 - 1917)                       23. Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (1815 - 1852)               1. John Lytton, 5th Earl of Lytton (1950)                                         12. Col. Robert Henry Palmer                       6. Brig.-Gen. Cyril Eustace Palmer, DSO (1870 - 1939)                             13. Alice Clarissa N.                       3. Clarissa Mary Palmer                                   28. James William Scarlett (1812 - 1890)               14. Harry Scarlett (1857 - 1919)                       29. Ann Rhodes Williams Browns (1819 - 1868)               7. Nina Kathleen Scarlett ( - 1962)                             30. John Blakiston-Houston(1829 - 1920)               15. Mary Charlotte Blakiston-Houston ( - 1954)                       31. Marian Gertrude Streatfeild ( - 1890)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Lytton
• The Official Earl of Lytton Website: The Lytton Family Archives
• Knebworth House website
• John Lytton & Co. Chartered Surveyors
• The International Byron Society

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Noel Anthony Scawen Lytton-Milbanke	Earl of Lytton 1985-present	Incumbent