John Stewart Gathorne-Hardy, 2nd Earl of Cranbrook, (22 March 1839 – 13 July 1911) was a British hereditary peer, Conservative politician, and military officer.
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Early life
Born John Stewart Hardy, Lord Cranbrook was the eldest son of the Conservative politician Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook, and Jane Stewart Orr. He assumed the additional surname of Gathorne by Royal licence in 1878 and when his father was elevated to the peerage as Earl of Cranbrook in 1892, he gained the courtesy title of Lord Medway.
Cranbrook was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.
Career
Cranbrook was elected to the House of Commons for Rye in 1868, a seat he held until 1880, and later represented Mid Kent from 1884 to 1885 and Medway from 1885 to 1892. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. He was made an honorary Colonel in the 5th Weald of Kent Battalion, The Buffs. He was Deputy lieutenant and Justice of the peace, as well as County Alderman, for Kent.
In 1906, he succeeded his father as second Earl of Cranbrook and took his seat in the House of Lords.
