Denys Finch Hatton
Encyclopedia
Denys George Finch Hatton (24 April 1887 – 14 May 1931) was a big-game hunter, and the lover of Karen Blixen
(also known by her pen name as Isak Dinesen), who wrote about him in her autobiographical book Out of Africa
first published in 1937. In the book, his name is hyphenated: "Finch-Hatton".
, by his wife, the former Anne "Nan" Codrington, daughter of Sir Henry Codrington
, an Admiral of the British Fleet. He was educated at Eton
, and Brasenose College, Oxford
. At Eton, he was Captain of the cricket Eleven, Keeper of the Field and the Wall (two major sports played at Eton), President of the Prefects Society called Pop, and Secretary of the Music Society.
In 1910, after a trip to South Africa
, he traveled to British East Africa, and bought some land on the western side of the Great Rift Valley
near what is now Eldoret
. He turned over the investment to a partner, and spent his time hunting.
on 5 April 1918. Soon afterwards he was assigned to military service in Egypt
. On his return to Kenya after the Armistice, he developed a close friendship with Blixen and her Swedish husband, Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke
. He left Africa again in 1920, but returned in 1922, investing in a land development company.
By this time, Karen Blixen had separated from her husband, and after their divorce in 1925, Finch Hatton moved into her house and began leading safari
s for wealthy sportsmen. Among his clients were Marshall Field
and The Prince of Wales
. According to author Mary Lovell, in 1930 Finch Hatton began a love affair with Beryl Markham
, who was working as a race-horse trainer in Nairobi and the surrounding area. This relationship inspired Markham to take up flying; later, she would become known as a pioneer flyer herself.
airport, circled the airport twice, then plunged to the ground and burst into flames. Finch Hatton and his Kĩkũyũ
servant Kamau were killed.
In accordance with his wishes, Finch Hatton was buried in the Ngong Hills
overlooking Nairobi National Park
. Later, his brother erected an obelisk
at the gravesite upon which he placed a simple brass plaque inscribed with Finch Hatton's name, the dates of his birth and death and an extract from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
's narrative poem the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
: "He prayeth well, who loveth well both man and bird and beast." According to Out of Africa, there is a memorial plaque on a footbridge at Eton. The bridge is inscribed with the words "Famous in these fields and by his many friends greatly beloved. Denys Finch Hatton 1900-1906."
in the 1985 film Out of Africa.
Karen Blixen
Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke , , née Karen Christenze Dinesen, was a Danish author also known by her pen name Isak Dinesen. She also wrote under the pen names Osceola and Pierre Andrézel...
(also known by her pen name as Isak Dinesen), who wrote about him in her autobiographical book Out of Africa
Out of Africa
Out of Africa is a 1985 romantic drama film directed and produced by Sydney Pollack, and starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. The film is based loosely on the autobiographical book Out of Africa written by Isak Dinesen , which was published in 1937, with additional material from Dinesen's book...
first published in 1937. In the book, his name is hyphenated: "Finch-Hatton".
Early life
Finch Hatton was the second son and third child of Henry Finch-Hatton, 13th Earl of WinchilseaHenry Finch-Hatton, 13th Earl of Winchilsea
Henry Stormont Finch-Hatton, 13th Earl of Winchilsea and 8th Earl of Nottingham was an English peer.He was second son of George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea and his third wife Frances Margaretta Rice...
, by his wife, the former Anne "Nan" Codrington, daughter of Sir Henry Codrington
Henry Codrington
Admiral Sir Henry John Codrington KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.-Naval career:...
, an Admiral of the British Fleet. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. At Eton, he was Captain of the cricket Eleven, Keeper of the Field and the Wall (two major sports played at Eton), President of the Prefects Society called Pop, and Secretary of the Music Society.
In 1910, after a trip to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, he traveled to British East Africa, and bought some land on the western side of the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
near what is now Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
. He turned over the investment to a partner, and spent his time hunting.
Relationship with Blixen
Finch Hatton was not known to have had any serious romances before he met Blixen. They were introduced at the Muthaiga ClubMuthaiga Country Club
The Muthaiga Country Club is a club in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located in the suburb of Muthaiga, about 15 minutes drive from the city center.The Muthaiga Country Club opened on New Year's Eve in 1913, and became a gathering place for the elite society of British East Africa, which later became the...
on 5 April 1918. Soon afterwards he was assigned to military service in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. On his return to Kenya after the Armistice, he developed a close friendship with Blixen and her Swedish husband, Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke
Bror von Blixen-Finecke
Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke was a Swedish baron, writer, and African big-game hunter.Born to an aristocratic Swedish family, he married his Danish second-cousin Karen Blixen in 1913...
. He left Africa again in 1920, but returned in 1922, investing in a land development company.
By this time, Karen Blixen had separated from her husband, and after their divorce in 1925, Finch Hatton moved into her house and began leading safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
s for wealthy sportsmen. Among his clients were Marshall Field
Marshall Field
Marshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
and The Prince of Wales
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
. According to author Mary Lovell, in 1930 Finch Hatton began a love affair with Beryl Markham
Beryl Markham
Beryl Markham was a British-born Kenyan aviatrix, adventurer, and racehorse trainer. During the pioneer days of aviation, she became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west...
, who was working as a race-horse trainer in Nairobi and the surrounding area. This relationship inspired Markham to take up flying; later, she would become known as a pioneer flyer herself.
Death
On the morning of 14 May 1931, Finch Hatton's Gypsy Moth took off from VoiVoi
Voi is a market town in southern Kenya, lying on the edge of the Tsavo National Park. It lies at the junction of the railway lines from Nairobi to Mombasa and Taveta. Also the Voi Sisal Estates are located near the town. Voi is also located near some Taita villages like, Ikanga and...
airport, circled the airport twice, then plunged to the ground and burst into flames. Finch Hatton and his Kĩkũyũ
Kikuyu
The Kikuyu are Kenya's most populous ethnic group. 'Kikuyu' is the Swahili form of the proper name and pronunciation of Gĩkũyũ although they refer to themselves as the Agĩkũyũ people.There are about 5,300,000 Kikuyu people in Kenya The Kikuyu are Kenya's most populous ethnic group. 'Kikuyu' is the...
servant Kamau were killed.
In accordance with his wishes, Finch Hatton was buried in the Ngong Hills
Ngong Hills
The Ngong Hills are peaks in a ridge along the Great Rift Valley, located southwest near Nairobi, in southern Kenya. The word "Ngong" is a Maasai word meaning "knuckles"...
overlooking Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is a national park in Kenya. Established in 1946, the national park was Kenya's first. It is located approximately 7 kilometres south of the centre of Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, with only a fence separating the park's wildlife from the metropolis. Nairobi's skyscrapers...
. Later, his brother erected an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
at the gravesite upon which he placed a simple brass plaque inscribed with Finch Hatton's name, the dates of his birth and death and an extract from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla...
's narrative poem the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the longest major poem by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, written in 1797–98 and was published in 1798 in the first edition of Lyrical Ballads. Modern editions use a later revised version printed in 1817 that featured a gloss...
: "He prayeth well, who loveth well both man and bird and beast." According to Out of Africa, there is a memorial plaque on a footbridge at Eton. The bridge is inscribed with the words "Famous in these fields and by his many friends greatly beloved. Denys Finch Hatton 1900-1906."
Fictional portrayals
Denys Finch Hatton was played by Robert RedfordRobert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
in the 1985 film Out of Africa.