Britain's oldest peer and 'Father of the House of Lords' has died peacefully at his home estate, aged 102.

Lord Falmouth, who owned the Tregothnan Estates in Cornwall – nearly twice the size of Prince Charles' own Cornish estate – died on March 7.

Officially called George Boscawen, 9th Viscount Falmouth, he was the oldest living peer before he died, making him the now former 'Father of the House of Lords'.

Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, he served with distinction in World War Two in Italy as a Captain of the Coldstream guards where he saw combat and was mentioned in dispatches.

During the war his elder brother, Hon. Evelyn Frederick Vere Boscawen, was killed in action in Italy, leaving Lord Falmouth as the heir to the family estate in 1962.

Lord Falmouth also served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall between 1977 and 1994.

He is survived by his four sons Evelyn, Nicholas, Charles and Vere – all Etonians – while his wife Elizabeth Price Browne died in 2007.

His eldest son, the Hon. Evelyn George Boscawen, will inherit the Viscountcy and become 10th Viscount Falmouth.

His funeral notice reads: "George Hugh Boscawen 9th Viscount died peacefully at home in Cornwall on 7th March in his 103rd year.

"Much loved husband of the late Elizabeth, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Funeral service at Truro Cathedral on Tuesday 5 April at 11.30 am."

Going back to 1264, the Boscawen family have a long history in Cornwall and, 750 years later, are one of the largest landowners in Cornwall.

The Boscawens still appoint priests of the Church of England in five parishes around the family mansion near Truro.

At the request of Lord Falmouth, there will not be a memorial service.