Preston, Thomas Hildebrand, only son of William T. Preston, The Gordon Highlanders, by Alice Mary, second daughter of Capt. Frederick Hildebrand Stevens, R.N., and grandson of Sir Jacob Henry Preston, Bart. (q.v.); b. June 2, 1886; adm. May 2, 1901 (H); left March 1902; Trin. Hall Camb., matric. Michaelmas 1905; conducted mining expeditions (platinum and gold) in the Northern Urals and on the Russo-Chinese border 1909-12; pioneer business man in Siberia; entered the consular service and after appointments at Ekaterinburg 1913-9, Vladivostock 1919-21, Leningrad 1921-7, and Turin 1927, was appointed Consul at Kovno 1929; H.M. Chargé d'Affaires for Lithuania 1930; First Secretary, Diplomatic Service, 1935; Counsellor 1939; Minister at Kovno 1940-1; Consul at Cairo 1941; seconded to Inter Governmental Committee 1945; O.B.E. 1934; writer and free lance journalist since retirement; studied music with Alexander Glazounov and composed several musical works including two ballets performed in Europe and in the Commonwealth; m. Oct. 3, 1913, Ella Henrietta, daughter of L. von. Schickendantz; d. 30 Dec. 1976.