Richard Long, 4th Viscount Long

Born in London, the second son of Richard Long, 3rd Viscount Long, he was educated at Harrow and served with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Wiltshire Regiment from 1947 to 1949. His elder brother, Walter Reginald Basil, had died in Greece in 1941 during World War II and Long succeeded to his father's title in 1967.

In 1974, he entered politics as an Opposition Whip and was then a Lord-in-waiting (senior Government whip) from 1979 to 1997.

Long was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1993 New Year Honours.[1]

Viscount Long lived for many years at Steeple Ashton Manor, and later at The Island, Newquay, Cornwall, a house on a rock linked to the mainland by a private suspension bridge.[2]

He was married three times and had three children by his first wife, Margaret (1928–2016).[3]

• Hon. Sarah Long (b.1958)
• James Richard Long (b.1960), 5th Viscount Long
• Hon. Charlotte Long (1965–1984), an actress,[3] who was killed in a car crash on 6 October 1984 at the age of 18.[4]

He died on 13 June 2017 at the age of 88.[5] His funeral service was held at St Mary's Church, Steeple Ashton, on 29 June 2017. He was succeeded by his son James as 5th Viscount Long.

• Inheriting the Earth: The Long Family's 500 Year Reign in Wiltshire; Cheryl Nicol

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Viscount Long