Samuel George Armstrong Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey (23 June 1941 – 4 March 2021) was a British peer and businessman. He held the hereditary title of Baron Vestey, a peerage created in 1922 for his great‑great‑grandfather, William Vestey, a shipping magnate.
Early life and education
- Born on 23 June 1941, the son of Captain Hon. William John Neville Vestey and his wife, Pamela West.
- He was educated at Eton College and later attended the University of Cambridge, where he read economics.
Career
- Joined the family‑owned Vestey Group, a multinational corporation involved in food processing, shipping, and agricultural services. He served as deputy chairman of the group and was a director of several of its subsidiaries, including the William Vestey & Sons Ltd meat‑packing business.
- Held senior positions in the British livestock and agricultural sectors, serving as a member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
- Was a director of the Jockey Club and involved in British horse‑racing administration.
Peerage and public service
- Succeeded his uncle, the 2nd Baron Vestey, to the barony in 1995.
- Appointed Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk in 1995, representing the Crown in the county; he held the post until 2003.
- Served as High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1984.
- Sat in the House of Lords as a hereditary peer until the House of Lords Act 1999 removed most hereditary seats; thereafter he was not an active member of the chamber.
Personal life
- Married twice. His first marriage was to Caroline Martha Basil, with whom he had three children: William Holden Vestey (who succeeded as 4th Baron Vestey), Hon. George Vestey, and Hon. Emma Vestey. The marriage ended in divorce.
- He later married Isobel Alison Murray.
Death
- Samuel Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey, died on 4 March 2021 at the age of 79. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son, William Holden Vestey, 4th Baron Vestey.
Legacy
Baron Vestey was recognised for his contributions to the British agricultural industry and his service as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk. His involvement in the family’s international business enterprises continued the Vestey legacy in food production and shipping.
