Henry Ward, 5th Viscount Bangor

Henry William Crosbie Ward, 5th Viscount Bangor DL, JP (26 July 1828 – 23 February 1911), styled The Honourable from birth until 1881, was an Irish peer, Conservative politician and soldier.

Background

He was the second son of Edward Ward, 3rd Viscount Bangor and his wife Harriet Margaret Maxwell, second daughter of Henry Maxwell, 6th Baron Farnham. Ward was educated at Rugby School and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1881, he succeeded his older brother Edward as viscount.

Career

Ward entered the British Army in 1846 and served in the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot. He fought in the Xhosa Wars and retired in 1854 as captain. In 1886, Ward was elected a representative peer to the House of Lords. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of County Down and represented the county also as Justice of the Peace.

Family

On 6 December 1854, he married firstly the scientist Mary King, youngest daughter of Henry King, and had by her five daughters and three sons. She died in 1869 in history's first car accident.

Ward remarried Elizabeth Eccles, only daughter of Major Hugh Eccles of Cronroe on 8 April 1874. His second marriage was childless. Ward died, aged 82 at his residence Castle Ward and was buried at Ballycutter four days later. He was succeeded in the viscountcy by his youngest and only surviving son Maxwell.