Quick Facts
Biography
John Roundell Palmer, 4th Earl of Selborne, GBE, DL, FRS (born 24 March 1940), is a British peer, ecological expert and businessman. He is one of the hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, sitting as a Conservative.
Background and education
The son of Captain William Palmer, Viscount Wolmer, in turn son of Roundell Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne, and the Honourable Grace Ridley, Lord Selborne succeeded to his grandfather's titles in 1971. He was educated first at St. Ronan's School, Hawkhurst, and at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1961, proceeding to complete a Master of Arts.
Career
Lord Selborne was Treasurer of King Edward's School, Witley between 1972–83, and a member of the Apple and Pear Development Council between 1969-73. He was chairman of the Hops Marketing Board from 1978–82, of the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) from 1982–89 and of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) from 1991-97. He was also a member of the NEDC Food Sector Group in 1991-92 and a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 1993 to 1998. From 1994-95, he was director of the Lloyds Bank and between 1995 and 2004 of Lloyds TSB Group.
Selborne was President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England from 1987–88, of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene from 1991 to 1997 and of the Royal Geographical Society from 1997-2000. From 1996-2006 he was the Chancellor of the University of Southampton and between 2003-09 he was chairman of the trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. In 1989 he was Master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. In 1991, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is also a Fellow of the Linnean Society, Vice-Patron of the Royal Entomological Society, and Patron of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
Selborne was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1987 and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to science.
Family
Since 1969, he has been married to Joanna van Antwerp James (Countess of Selborne, Lady Selborne).
The couple have four children:
- Lady Emily Palmer,
- William Palmer, Viscount Wolmer,
- Hon. George Palmer,
- Hon. Luke Palmer.
The family live near Selborne, Hampshire.