As a preview to my forthcoming book on Eccentrics, let me tell you the story of the wonderfully odd William North, 11th Baron North (1836–1932)
Lord North was a rather strange individual. He married in September 1876 and spent his honeymoon in the Caribbean. When he returned with his new American wife to Burgholt House in England in October, he announced to his wife that he was going to bed. His wife was very surprised when he remained in bed for the rest of that week and was shocked to be told by a manservant that Lord North always stayed in bed from October 9th until March 22nd.
A large 25 foot dining table was brought into Lord North’s bedchamber so that he could entertain people to dinner during these months. Lord North’s explanation for this bizarre behaviour was that no Lord North had got out of bed from October to March since his ancestor had lost the American Colonies!