Michael John James George Robert Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk & 14th Earl of Berkshire (27 March 1935 – 5 August 2022), styled Viscount Andover until 1941, was an English peer, a member of the House of Lords from 1956 to 1999.

Life

Michael Howard was born on 27 March 1935, the son of Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, and Chicago-born actress and ballet dancer Mimi Forde Pigott. He succeeded his father in 1941, when his father was killed by a bomb he was attempting to defuse. He was briefly educated at Winchester College, but left after a year. After his death, the writer Jilly Cooper revealed that Suffolk had been one of the inspirations for her best-known literary creation, Rupert Campbell-Black.

Personal life

Suffolk was married three times: He married, firstly, on 1 October 1960, Simone Litman, by whom he had one daughter: On 22 September 1973, Suffolk married Anita Fugelsang (who later married Charles Stanhope, 12th Earl of Harrington), with whom he had two children: On 15 December 1983, Suffolk married the former Linda Jacqueline Paravicini (married, firstly, Alexander Hood, 4th Viscount Bridport), with whom he had two children: The Earl of Suffolk lived at Charlton Park, Wiltshire. He was also 14th Earl of Berkshire, but signed in the name of 'Suffolk', his most senior title. He died on 5 August 2022, at the age of 87.

Family tree