Born in London on the 1st of June 1827, the son of Richard William Penn, 1st Earl Howe, and his second wife, Harriet Georgiana, daughter of Robert Brudenell, 6th Earl of Cardigan. Hence James Thomas Brudenell was his uncle and Cornet Henry Baring, also 17th Lancers, was his brother-in-law.
[PB: Is there any more information about e.g. his family in the 1841 Census?]
1841 Census
Eton, Bucks.
William Curzon, 14.
Cornet in the 17th Lancers: 13th of January 1855.
Lieutenant, 17th Lancers: 17th of September 1857.
Captain, 17th Lancers: 30th of December 1859.
Major, 17th Lancers: 19th of July 1864.
Retired, by the sale of his commission, on the 20th of July 1870.
Captain Curzon served the Eastern campaign of 1855 from the 23rd of July, including the Siege and fall of Sebastopol (Medal and Clasp).
Present in the Central India campaign of 1858-59 and was engaged in action with the rebels at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859 (Medal).
Joined the regiment in the Crimea aboard the S.T. "Etna" and returned to England on the 10th of November 1855.
The muster rolls for the period July-September 1858 show him as being "On Detachment at Sholapoore".
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, the Turkish medal and the Mutiny Medal (without clasp.)
He married twice.
His first marriage was to Beatrice Louisa Margaret, the daughter of Alexander Page, Esq., on the 26th of October 1870.
Marriage registered [1st]
William Henry Curzon to Beatrice Page, December Quarter 1870, Croydon.
1871 Census
Chipperfield House, Kings Langley, Chipperfield, Herts.
William H Curzon, aged 48, Honourable, born London.
Beatrice L. Curzon, 23, born Kensington.
Three servants are also shown.
His second marriage, on the 30th of November 1874, was to Emily, daughter of Frederick Couper, Esq., of Carlton Hall, Penrith, Cumberland. At this time he was living at 10 Chester Square, London, S.W.
Marriage registered [2nd]
William Henry Curzon and Emily Cowper [sic], December Quarter 1874, Penrith.
Birth registered
Hilda Georgina [Georgiana?] S. Curzon, June Quarter 1879, St George's Hanover Sq.
1881 Census
19, Wilbury Road, Hove, Sussex.
The 1881 Census shows him as a Retired Army Officer, aged 53, born in London, with his wife Emily, 40, also born in London. One child, Hilda S., 2, was shown, as were six Household Servants, ranging from Children's Nurse to Footman.
1881 Census
19 Wilbury Road, Hove, Sussex.
William Curzon, 53, Retired Army Officer, born London.
Emily Curzon, 40, born London.
Hilda S. Curzon, 2, born London.
Six servants are also shown.
1891 Census
17, Denmark Terrace, Brighton.
Major W.H. Curzon, aged 63, married, Retired Officer late 17th Lancers, Army, born Hyde Park.
Emily Curzon, 46, born Harley Street.
Hilda Curzon, 12, born Hyde Park.
Four servants are also shown.
1901 Census
10 Chester Square, St George's Hanover Square.
Hon W. Curzon, 73, Retired Officer Army, born London.
Emily Curzon, 55, born London.
Hilda Curzon, 22, born London.
Four servants are also shown.
1911 Census
17, Eccleston Square, London SW.
William Henry Curzon, 83, Retired Major, born London.
Emily Curzon, 65, born London.
Hilda S. Curzon, 32, born London.
Four servants are also shown.
Died at 17 Eccleston Square, London, on the 5th of January 1914, in his 87th year, and was buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church at Penn, Buckinghamshire, on the 8th of January 1914.
[PB: thepeerage.com says 1913]
Death registered
William H Curson [sic], 86, March Quarter 1914, St George's Hanover Square.
Extract from the Bucks Herald, 17th of January 1914:
"Funeral of Major Curzon"
At Penn Churchyard on January the 8th, the funeral took place of Major the Hon. William Henry Curzon, who died on the 5th in his 87th year, the service being conducted by the Revd. B.J. Kirby (Vicar of Holy Trinity) and the Archbishop of Brisbane, the Revd. J.G. McCormack.
The hymns sung were 'Just as I am' and 'Lead, Kindly Light'. The interment was made in a new grave, choicely lined with evergreens and foliage. [Then follows a list of mourners and wreath-senders.]"
His gravestone is a stone cross, some five feet in height, on a three-tier base, and is close to the east wall of Holy Trinity Church at Penn, Buckinghamshire.
The facing inscription on the middle tier of the base reads: 'Major the Honourable William Henry Curzon, late 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. 5th son of the 1st Earl Howe. Born 1st of June 1827 — Died 5th January 1914.'
On the base stone is: 'Emily Curzon. Born 3rd of June 1837 — Died 21st of December 1924.'
In the church of the Holy Trinity at Penn there are a number of tablets and memorials to the Curzon family, but there does not appear to be one for William Henry Curzon.
According to www.thepeerage.com, Hilda Georgina [Georgiana?] Susan Curzon married Reverend Gordon Miles Staveley Oldham, son of Thomas Staveley Oldham, on 14 February 1916, and died on 26 November 1963 [ http://www.thepeerage.com/p4997.htm#i49968 (accessed 19.1.2013)].
Additional birth and death registrations, and Census information for 1861-1901 kindly provided by Chris Poole.