Charles Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax

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Charles Ingram Courtenay Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax (3 October 1912 – 19 March 1980) was a British politician and peer. He was styled Lord Irwin from 1934 until 1959.

Wood was the son of Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, statesman and Foreign Secretary. Lord Halifax had almost become Prime Minister in 1940 upon the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. The younger Wood also entered politics, becoming Member of Parliament for the City of York in 1937, as a Conservative.

In 1936, he married Ruth, daughter of the Liberal politician Neil Primrose.

In 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, Wood rejoined the Royal Horse Guards and served for three years in the Middle East. He continued as a Member of Parliament during this time. At the 1945 general election, he lost his seat to the Labour candidate, Dr J Corlett.

Wood succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Halifax in 1960. In 1978, his horse Shirley Heights won the Epsom Derby.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lawrence Roger Lumley	Member of Parliament for the City of York 1937–1945	Succeeded by John Corlett
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Lord Deramore	Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire 1968–1974	Office abolished
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Edward Wood	Earl of Halifax 1960–1980	Succeeded by Charles Wood