The Duke of Richmond is also the Earl of March. This lesser title (Earl) is then used by the eldest son as a courtesy title. When the original Duke dies the eldest son becomes Duke of Richmond and his son, if he has one, becomes Earl of March. Read all about courtesy titles on wikipedia, which is a very useful resource despite what some insist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtesy_title

Up the Republic!

I should have added that Frederick Charles Gordon-Lennox ( Earl of March) became Duke of Richmond on 7th May 1935, when his father died.

This is a good site for births, deaths and accessions of the English aristocracy:

http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/

I believe his correct title is the Duke of Richmond and Gordon
JSF

Yes, the correct style is Duke of Richmond and Gordon. In addition Duke of Lennox, but that's too much of a mouthful I suppose. Correct style for the eldest son is Earl of March and Kinrara. The grandson has the courtesy title Lord Settrington, so this would have been F. C. Gordon-Lennox's name up until his grandfather's death in 1928.

You should have asked, Vladimir! As it happens, I have a copy of the 1936 edition of the "society bible" Who's Who, which is a very handy resource for checking up on 1930s drivers: as well as the various lords a few non-aristos are mentioned in it.

The Earl of March (Freddie March/Freddie Gordon-Lennox) succeeded his father as Duke of Richmond on May 7th 1935.

In 1936 his correct style was "9th Duke of Richmond, Earl of March, Baron Settrington, Duke of Lennox, Earl of Darnley, Baron Methuen, Duke of Gordon, Earl of Kinrara and Duc d'Aubigny".

So he was given only first name Freddie after his birth and his last name changed through time?

His given names were Frederick Charles (shortened to Freddie) and his surname was Gordon-Lennox
His name did not change in his lifetime but his title did ;)

I think it should be explained that members of the British peerage have forenames and surnames (just like the rest of us) but are always known by their title, not their surname. As others have pointed out, this may vary as they inherit other more high-ranking titles. Take, for example, the former racing driver John Colum Crichton-Stuart. His forenames are John and Colum and his surname is Crichton-Stuart. These never alter. During his racing career he was entitled to be known as the Earl of Dumfries, so called himself Johnny Dumfries. On the death of his father in 1993 he inherited (among many others) the more high-ranking title Marquess of Bute, so is now known as Johnny Bute. I don't know whether this makes things any clearer . . .

Any new example does make things clearer. Thank you.

What about Earl Howe and Lord Howe?

He was Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon (ie his forenames were Francis Richard Henry Penn and his surname was Curzon). When he took up motor racing in 1928 his father, the 4th Earl Howe, was still alive. As the eldest son Francis was entitled to be known by his father's second title of Viscount Curzon. On his father's death in 1929 Francis inherited all his father's titles, becoming Earl Howe, Viscount Curzon, Baron Howe and Baron Curzon. The Earldom of Howe was the most high-ranking of these, so Francis became Francis, Earl Howe or just plain Francis Howe.

Any reference to him as 'Lord Howe' just indicates that he was a peer, without specifying his rank.

So, who is "Brenda"?

Elizabeth Windsor.

Now for something completely different...

I've been reading through the old 1925-1927 World Championship results and the 1931-1939 European Championship results, and I've been wondering: what were the official designations of these championships? With my limited French *) knowledge, I've come up with the following:

• Championnat du Monde des Constructeurs / World Championship for Manufacturers (1925–1927)
• Championnat Européen des Conducteurs / European Championship of Drivers (1931–1932; 1935–1939)

One alternative of the latter championship could be:

• Championnat d'Europe des Conducteurs / European Championship of Drivers

*) = I presume the championships were named in French, since the 1950–1980 and 1958–1980 championships were called Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs / World Championship of Drivers and Coupe Internationale des Constructeurs Formule 1 / International Cup for Formula 1 Manufacturers respectively, as is the current championship (Championnat du Monde de Formule Un / Formula One World Championship)