Bay Middleton
Encyclopedia
Capt. William George "Bay" Middleton (1846 - 9 April 1892) was a noted English
horseman of the 19th century. He was equerry
to John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer
, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
1869-1874 and 1882-1885.
He was privately tutored at Wimbledon
, gazetted to the 12th Lancers in 1865, and stationed in Cahir
in County Tipperary
. He rode his first Winning Race in 1867 at Cork Park. He joined the Lord Lieutenant's
staff as an extra Aide de Camp in 1870, where he was based at the Viceregal Lodge
in Dublin, was promoted to Captain and left services. Middleton was one of the best and most popular riders in the United Kingdom. When the Empress of Austria
hunted in Ireland
, he was her pilot. He repeatedly rode the winners over the stiffest steeplechase courses, including the Punchestown (Ireland) Grand National. Besides being distinguished as a horseman, he was a good cricket
er, belonging to the Jockey Cricket Club.
His nickname "Bay
" was either a reference to his reddish-brown hair, or derived from the name of the winner
of the Epsom Derby
winner in 1836.
visited England, arriving on 2 August 1874, where she met Earl Spencer
. When she returned to England in 1876, she visited Lord Spencer at Althorp
, and Bay Middleton was asked to "pilot" the Empress. She left England in February 1882 and never hunted in England or Ireland again.
On 25 October 1882, at St. George's, Hanover Square
, Middleton married Charlotte Baird, daughter of William Baird, Esq. of Eli. They had one daughter, born about 1886.
He had an 18-month affair with Lady (Henrietta) Blanche Ogilvy, while she was married to Colonel Henry Hozier. She confided in a letter (made public in August 2002 by her granddaughter, Mary Soames
) to another lover that Bay Middleton was the father of her daughter, Clementine Hozier
, born 1 April 1885, who was eventually to marry Sir Winston Churchill
.
Another writer, Joan Hardwick, had speculated that Clementine had been fathered by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (1837-1916): Lady Soames dismissed such earlier speculation as "based on anecdote and gossip", which was, unlike the paternity of Middleton, undocumented.
's estate at Kineton
, killed in a fall from his horse at the Parliamentary steeplechase
. He was buried in full riding costume at Haselbech
, Northamptonshire
. His coffin was kept in the parish church, covered with the Union Jack and flanked with lances of the 12th Lancers
, Captain Middleton's regiment. A large assembly of mourners gathered to attend the funeral service, which was conducted by the Rev. W. Lloyd, the rector
. Among the mourners were the widow and the deceased's only child, a little girl of six. Earl Spencer
, Lord and Lady Willoughby de Broke, Sir Saville Crossley, M.P.
, Mr. Albert Pell, Captain Atherton, Mr. C. W. Pernie, General Le Quesne, and many others who were well known in the hunting field also attended Middleton's funeral.
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
horseman of the 19th century. He was equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer
John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer
John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer KG, PC , known as Viscount Althorp from 1845 to 1857 , was a British Liberal Party politician under and close friend of British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone...
, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
1869-1874 and 1882-1885.
He was privately tutored at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, gazetted to the 12th Lancers in 1865, and stationed in Cahir
Cahir
Cahir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. The town is best known for its castle and the Swiss Cottage. It is in the barony of Iffa and Offa West.-Location and access:...
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
. He rode his first Winning Race in 1867 at Cork Park. He joined the Lord Lieutenant's
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
staff as an extra Aide de Camp in 1870, where he was based at the Viceregal Lodge
Viceregal Lodge
Viceregal Lodge may refer to:Residences of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland:* Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin * Chapelizod House, County Dublin Residences of the Viceroy of India:* Rashtrapati Niwas, Simla...
in Dublin, was promoted to Captain and left services. Middleton was one of the best and most popular riders in the United Kingdom. When the Empress of Austria
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
hunted in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, he was her pilot. He repeatedly rode the winners over the stiffest steeplechase courses, including the Punchestown (Ireland) Grand National. Besides being distinguished as a horseman, he was a good cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, belonging to the Jockey Cricket Club.
His nickname "Bay
Bay (color)
Bay is a hair coat color of horses, characterized by a reddish brown body color with a black mane, tail, ear edges, and lower legs. Bay is one of the most common coat colors in many horse breeds....
" was either a reference to his reddish-brown hair, or derived from the name of the winner
Bay Middleton (horse)
Bay Middleton was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse whose victories included two British Classic Races. He was twice the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland.-Breeding:...
of the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner in 1836.
Personal life
In 1873 he began an affair with a married woman } and in 1875 he became engaged to Charlotte Baird. Empress SisiElisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
visited England, arriving on 2 August 1874, where she met Earl Spencer
John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer
John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer KG, PC , known as Viscount Althorp from 1845 to 1857 , was a British Liberal Party politician under and close friend of British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone...
. When she returned to England in 1876, she visited Lord Spencer at Althorp
Althorp
Althorp is a country estate of about and a stately home in Northamptonshire, England. It is about north-west of the county town of Northampton. The late Diana, Princess of Wales is buried in the estate.-History:...
, and Bay Middleton was asked to "pilot" the Empress. She left England in February 1882 and never hunted in England or Ireland again.
On 25 October 1882, at St. George's, Hanover Square
Hanover Square
Hanover Square may refer to:* Hanover Square, London, England* Hanover Square, Manhattan, New York City, USA** Hanover Square , elevated station* Hanover Square, Syracuse, USA-See also:* Hanover Square Rooms, London...
, Middleton married Charlotte Baird, daughter of William Baird, Esq. of Eli. They had one daughter, born about 1886.
He had an 18-month affair with Lady (Henrietta) Blanche Ogilvy, while she was married to Colonel Henry Hozier. She confided in a letter (made public in August 2002 by her granddaughter, Mary Soames
Mary Soames, Baroness Soames
Mary Soames, Baroness Soames, is the youngest of Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine's five children and, as of 2011, the sole surviving child...
) to another lover that Bay Middleton was the father of her daughter, Clementine Hozier
Clementine Churchill, Baroness Spencer-Churchill
Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill, Baroness Spencer-Churchill, GBE, CStJ was the wife of Sir Winston Churchill and a life peeress in her own right.-Early life:...
, born 1 April 1885, who was eventually to marry Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
Another writer, Joan Hardwick, had speculated that Clementine had been fathered by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (1837-1916): Lady Soames dismissed such earlier speculation as "based on anecdote and gossip", which was, unlike the paternity of Middleton, undocumented.
Death
Captain William George Middleton died in the Midland Sportsman's Cup at Lord Willoughby de BrokeBaron Willoughby de Broke
Baron Willoughby de Broke is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ in 1491 for Sir Robert Willoughby, of Brooke/Broke manor, Heywood, near Westbury, Wiltshire, de jure 9th Baron Latimer...
's estate at Kineton
Kineton
Kineton is a village and civil parish on the River Dene in south-eastern Warwickshire, England. The village is part of Stratford-on-Avon district, and in the 2001 census it had a population of 2,278....
, killed in a fall from his horse at the Parliamentary steeplechase
Steeplechase (horse racing)
The steeplechase is a form of horse racing and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside...
. He was buried in full riding costume at Haselbech
Haselbech
Haselbech is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 87 people. At the centre of the village stands Haselbech Hall, a Jacobean-revival mansion, and the village church. Both are...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. His coffin was kept in the parish church, covered with the Union Jack and flanked with lances of the 12th Lancers
9th/12th Royal Lancers
The 9th/12th Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers. It is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family of vehicles and...
, Captain Middleton's regiment. A large assembly of mourners gathered to attend the funeral service, which was conducted by the Rev. W. Lloyd, the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. Among the mourners were the widow and the deceased's only child, a little girl of six. Earl Spencer
John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer
John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer KG, PC , known as Viscount Althorp from 1845 to 1857 , was a British Liberal Party politician under and close friend of British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone...
, Lord and Lady Willoughby de Broke, Sir Saville Crossley, M.P.
Savile Crossley, 1st Baron Somerleyton
Savile Brinton Crossley, 1st Baron Somerleyton GCVO, PC , known as Sir Savile Crossley, Bt, from 1872 to 1916, was a British Liberal Unionist politician who served as Paymaster General from 1902 to 1905.-Background:...
, Mr. Albert Pell, Captain Atherton, Mr. C. W. Pernie, General Le Quesne, and many others who were well known in the hunting field also attended Middleton's funeral.
Portrayal on stage
Middleton appears as the Empress' lover in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet MayerlingMayerling (ballet)
Mayerling is a ballet created in 1978 by Kenneth MacMillan for the Royal Ballet, London.- Synopsis :Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria is forced into a marriage of state with Princess Stéphanie of Belgium; Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich, the mistress of whom he is tiring, introduces him to the...
.