Lyon-Dalberg-Acton, Richard Gerald

Richard Gerald Lyon-Dalberg-Acton, 4th Baron Acton and Baron Acton of Bridgnorth (30 July 1941 – 10 October 2010) was a British Labour politician.

The oldest son of John Lyon-Dalberg-Acton and Daphne Strutt, daughter of Robert Strutt, 4th Baron Rayleigh, he became the 4th Baron Acton and additionally 11th Baronet, of Aldenham in 1989, upon his father's death. In 2000, he was created a life peer as Baron Acton of Bridgnorth, of Aldenham in the County of Shropshire, so that he could remain in the House of Lords after the House of Lords Act 1999.

Acton was educated at St. George's College (Zimbabwe) and at Trinity College, Oxford, from which he emerged with a Bachelor of Arts in 1963 (later, he would receive a Master of Arts from the same institution). He served a term as director of Coutts & Co before being admitted into Inner Temple in 1976 and practising for about four years. He then served as a Senior Law Officer of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Zimbabwe from 1981 until 1985. After becoming a life peer as mentioned before, Lord Acton served on the House of Lords Constitution Committee and on the Joint Committee on the Consolidation Bills.

Acton was married to Patricia Acton, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City, Iowa, divided his time between London and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, Lady Acton, and his son Johnny, who succeeds him to the title of Lord Acton. Also surviving are four brothers and five sisters.

Books and Publications:

The Spectator Annual (contributor, 1993), To Go Free: A treasury of Iowa's Legal Heritage (with Patricia Nassif Acton, Benjamin F Shambaugh Award 1996), A Brit Among the Hawkeyes (1998), Outside In: African-American History in Iowa 1838-2000 (contributor, 2001)

There will be a private funeral service for family members only on 15 October. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to a charity of the donor's choice.