(continued)

SPACE INVADER Horndog UFO enthusiast Lord Kimberly was found naked in a cupboard by a cuckolded husband

The 4th Earl of Kimberley (John Wodehouse) 1924-2002
The Earl of Kimberley is best known for getting married six times. Looking back, he explained the underpinnings of his romantic life: "Sex. I just couldn't think of anything else." He claimed success in that department—and was once caught naked in a cupboard by an angry husband—but reportedly also found time to indulge his love of tiddlywinks, UFOs, pig-breeding, and alcohol. The Earl traced his alcoholism to the final days of World War II, when he happened upon a large supply of Nazi champagne and stashed it away in his tank—an accusation that would make Hitler partly responsible for Lord Wodehouse driving his car up the steps of a hotel in Brighton, and possibly for the death of the pedestrian he ran over in Piccadilly. Amazingly, none of this mischief disqualified him from being a spokesman for the British Liberal Party.

ABOUT TO EARL Hard-partying Irishman Lord Kingston blew his inheritance on wine, women, and song

The 11th Earl of Kingston (Barclay Robert Edwin King-Tenison) 1943-2002
In Leaving Las Vegas, Nicolas Cage's character is asked if his drinking is a form of suicide, to which he replies, "Or is killing myself a way of drinking?" This upbeat world view would seem to apply to the approach to life taken by the Earl of Kingston. This scion of the Irish aristocracy comes from a long line of tragic figures&mdash:the drowning of one of his lordly predecessors was the inspiration for Milton's mournful poem "Lycidas." The subject of a bitter custody battle as a child, the Earl of Kingston grew up to become an accomplished boxer nick-named "Thuggers." He ran something described as a "mobile discotheque" and a public relations firm, and was seen judging pole-dancing competitions at a London strip club, drinking his way through his inheritance all the while. This last part appeared an easy task at times—to quote the Earl, "£600,000 isn't enough when you drink." But just in case it did turn out to be more than he needed, the fun-loving Irishman entered a fourth and final marriage before passing away, a union he described as "a marriage of financial convenience, so my son and daughter will not inherit my money when I die."

Photos in order of appearance: David McNew/Newsmakers; No credit