Christopher Soames
Arthur Christopher John Soames, Baron Soames (October 12, 1920-September 16, 1987) was the last Governor of Zimbabwe a former Member of Parliament and later a life peer. He served in the Cabinets of Harold Macmillain, Alec Douglas-Home and Margaret Thatcher. He was the son of Captain Arthur Granville Soames, descendant of a brewing family which became part of the landed gentry, by his wife Hope Mary Woodbine Parrish. His parents divorced early on, and his mother remarried the 7th Baron Dynevor (descendant of the 1st and last Earl Talbot) as her 2nd husband, by whom she had issue.
Christopher Soames married Mary Churchill (younger surviving daughter of Winston Churchill) on February 11, 1947. They had several children, of whom the best known is his eldest son Nicholas Soames MP, the current Tory Shadow Secretary of State for Defense. A daughter Charlotte Soames, now The Countess Peel, was mother of India Hicks, the youngest bridesmaid to Diana, Princess of Wales in 1981.
| Preceded by: John Hugh Hare |
Secretary of State for War 1958–1960 |
Followed by: John Profumo |
| Preceded by: John Hugh Hare |
Agriculture Minister 1960–1964 |
Followed by: Fred Peart |
| Preceded by: Michael Foot |
Lord President of the Council 1979–1981 |
Followed by: Francis Pym |