Arthur Christopher John Soames, Baron Soames (October 12, 1920-September 16, 1987) was the last Governor of Zimbabwe. 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 including the present peer (Lord Soames's half-brother).
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.
Soames served in the Cabinet of Harold Macmillan as Secretary of State for War from 1958 to 1960 and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1960 to 1964 under Macmillan and, his successor, Alec Douglas-Home.
Soames 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.
ChristopherSoames married Mary Churchill (younger surviving daughter of Winston Churchill) on February 11, 1947.
He held ministerial posts 1958–64, was vice-president of the European Commission 1973–77 and governor of (Southern) Rhodesia during its transition to independence as Zimbabwe December 1979–April 1980.
Soames entered Parliament as a Conservative in 1950, and after holding junior office was minister of war 1958–60, and minister of agriculture 1960–64.
This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.
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