The Honourable Willoughby Burrell
(1841-1915)
20 July 1861

Volume 4, page 253, sitting 5081.

The Honourable Willoughby Merrick Campbell Burrell was born on 26 October 1841, the son of Peter Robert Burrell, 4th Baron Gwydry, and his wife, Sophie née Campbell. He joined the Army (by purchase) on 1 June 1860 as an Ensign in the Rifle Brigade. He was later Honorary Colonel of the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). 

He married, firstly, Mary Banks, daughter of Sir John Banks, on 4 September 1873. His first wife died on 26 June 1898. He married, secondly, Anne Ord, daughter of John Ord, on 4 June 1901.

Lord Gwydyr died on 13 February 1915.

According to his obituary in The Times (15 February 1915): 'Lord Gwydyr died in London on Saturday after some weeks’ illness. He underwent an operation about four months ago.’ The obituary continues: ‘Willoughby Merrik Campbell Burrell was born in October, 1841, the only son of the fourth baron by his marriage with Sophia, only child of Mr. F.W. Campbell, of Barbreck. He was educated at Eton, and at one time served in the Rifle Brigade, in which he attained captain’s rank; he was afterwards honorary colonel of the 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He did not succeed to the title until his 69th year; his father was within a week or two of his 99th birthday when he died in 1909. Though twice married, Lord Gwydyr leaves no male issue, and the title, which was created in 1796 in favour of Sir Peter Burrell, baronet, become extinct. His first wife was the only child of Sir John Banks, K.C.B., of Golagh, County Monaghan. By her he had two sons – one of whom died in childhood and the other, unmarried, at the age of 24 – and one daughter, who was married in 1902 to Sir John Henniker Heaton, second baronet. Lord Gwydyr was married again in 1901 to the daughter of Mr John Ord, of Overwhitton, Roxburghshire, who died without issue in 1910.’