Francis Rodd, 2nd Baron Rennell

Major General Francis James Rennell Rodd, 2nd Baron Rennell KBE CB JP (25 October 1895 – 15 March 1978) was the second but eldest surviving son of the diplomat James Rennell Rodd, 1st Baron Rennell.

War Background
During the First World War he served in the artillery and, since he spoke four languages fluently, as an intelligence officer in France, Italy North Africa, Egypt, Libya, Palestine and Syria. Rodd would later make two great expeditions into the central Sahara (in 1922 and 1927) which provided him for the material of his book about the Tuareg, entitled People of the Veil. In 1939, Rodd was re-commissioned into the army and served as Chief of Civil Affairs, Staff Officer of the Allied Military Government in Sicily and as Major General, Civil Affairs Administration Middle East Command, East Africa Command, and Italy. After the war he joined the civil service.

Family
On the 3 August 1928, he married The Hon. Mary Constance Vivian Smith, daughter of Vivian Hugh Smith, 1st Baron Bicester. They had four daughters.


 * Hon. Joanna Phoebe Rodd (1929-?) married Comte Gerard de Renusson d'Hauteville
 * Hon. Juliet Honor Rodd (1930-?) married Brian Boobyer
 * Hon. Mary Elizabeth Jill Rodd (1932-) married first Michael Dunne (1928-); married second Christopher Bridges Daniell.
 * Hon. Rachel Georgiana Rodd (1935-?) married Richard Douglas Blythe.

Civil Service and Title
He was president of the Royal Geographic Society 1945-1948 and on the board of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) 1954-1965. On the death of his father on 26 July 1941 he gained the title of 2nd Baron Rennell and, as he had no sons, the barony passed to his nephew Tremayne Rodd, 3rd Baron Rennell on his death in 1978.

Bibliography Reference

 * Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War, Nick Smart. ISBN 1-84415-049-6.
 * Debrett's Peerage