Francis Osborne, 12th Duke of Leeds
Encyclopedia
Francis D'Arcy Godolphin Osborne, 12th Duke of Leeds, KCMG
(16 September 1884 – 20 March 1964), known before 1963 as Sir D'Arcy Osborne, was a British
diplomat.
to the Holy See 1936–1947. Osborne's appointment came on the heels of Cardinal Secretary of State Pacelli's (future Pope Pius XII
) complaints of the short tenure of British Ministers to the Vatican; in fact, Osborne himself waited six months after his appointment before arriving in Rome.
He was one of the group, which he supported with his own money, led by Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty
and a French diplomat François de Vial
who both helped conceal some 4000 escapees, both Allied soldiers and Jews, from the Nazis; 3925 survived the war. Their story was portrayed in the 1983 film The Scarlet and the Black
, starring Gregory Peck
. He also played a key part in a plot in 1940, which involved the Pope and certain German generals, to overthrow Hitler (See Owen Chadwick
's Britain and the Vatican During the Second World War, 1988, Cambridge University Paperback Library, p. 86 et seq.)
Major Sam Derry, in his book Escape Line, described meeting the Duke in the Vatican in 1943:
At this dinner Derry was in disguise as a Monsignor; afterwards Sir D'Arcy "offered him the command of the escape organisation".
in 1963, but he was the last of the line, without an heir. The Dukedom of Leeds and all its subsidiary titles became extinct upon his death just a year later, at the age of 79.
's 1988 book, Britain and the Vatican during the Second World War. Chadwick included the following quote attributed to Osborne: "I reached the grave conclusion during the Mass that I am nothing but a pencilled marginal note in the Book of Life. I am not in the main text at all."
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(16 September 1884 – 20 March 1964), known before 1963 as Sir D'Arcy Osborne, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat.
Minister to the Holy See
He was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryEnvoy (title)
In diplomacy, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary is, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna of 1815, a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an Ambassador and a Minister Resident....
to the Holy See 1936–1947. Osborne's appointment came on the heels of Cardinal Secretary of State Pacelli's (future Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
) complaints of the short tenure of British Ministers to the Vatican; in fact, Osborne himself waited six months after his appointment before arriving in Rome.
He was one of the group, which he supported with his own money, led by Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty
Hugh O'Flaherty
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, CBE was an Irish Roman Catholic priest and senior official of the Roman Curia. During World War II, he was responsible for saving 6,500 Allied soldiers and Jews...
and a French diplomat François de Vial
François Vial
François de Vial was a diplomat and a Minister Plenipotentiary of France. He was born October 4, 1904 at Chateau Lynch-Bages Pauillac 1 . He died May 16, 1984.-Education:He attended the Lycée Saint-Joseph de Tivoli from 1910 to 1918 ....
who both helped conceal some 4000 escapees, both Allied soldiers and Jews, from the Nazis; 3925 survived the war. Their story was portrayed in the 1983 film The Scarlet and the Black
The Scarlet and the Black
The Scarlet and the Black is a 1983 made for TV movie starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer. This production should not be confused with the 1993 British television mini series Scarlet and Black, which starred Ewan McGregor and Rachel Weisz....
, starring Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Eldred Gregory Peck was an American actor.One of 20th Century Fox's most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1960s, Peck continued to play important roles well into the 1980s. His notable performances include that of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which he won an...
. He also played a key part in a plot in 1940, which involved the Pope and certain German generals, to overthrow Hitler (See Owen Chadwick
Owen Chadwick
William Owen Chadwick, OM, KBE, FBA, FRSE is a British professor, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. He was also a rugby union player.-Early life and education:Chadwick was born in Bromley in 1916...
's Britain and the Vatican During the Second World War, 1988, Cambridge University Paperback Library, p. 86 et seq.)
Major Sam Derry, in his book Escape Line, described meeting the Duke in the Vatican in 1943:
Unruffled poise... Seldom have I met any man in whom I had such immediate confidence. He welcomed us warmly, yet I found it impossible to behave with anything but strict formality. Apart from the restraining influence of my clothing [he was not used to being dressed as a monsignor] I was almost overwhelmed by an atmosphere of old-world English courtliness and grace which I had thought belonged only to the country-house parties of long ago. Sir D'Arcy was spry, trim, a young sixty, but he had spent years enough in the diplomatic service to develop an astonishing aptitude for creating around himself an aura of all that was most civilized in English life. I felt as though I had returned home after long travels, to find that royalty had come to dinner, and I had to be on my best behaviour.
At this dinner Derry was in disguise as a Monsignor; afterwards Sir D'Arcy "offered him the command of the escape organisation".
Post-war
After the war he lived at the Palazzo Sacchetti, 66 Via Giulia, Rome. He succeeded his second cousin once removed as Duke of LeedsDuke of Leeds
Duke of Leeds was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1694 for the prominent statesman Thomas Osborne, 1st Marquess of Carmarthen...
in 1963, but he was the last of the line, without an heir. The Dukedom of Leeds and all its subsidiary titles became extinct upon his death just a year later, at the age of 79.
Legacy
Osborne's wartime papers were indexed and constitute the source matter for Owen ChadwickOwen Chadwick
William Owen Chadwick, OM, KBE, FBA, FRSE is a British professor, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. He was also a rugby union player.-Early life and education:Chadwick was born in Bromley in 1916...
's 1988 book, Britain and the Vatican during the Second World War. Chadwick included the following quote attributed to Osborne: "I reached the grave conclusion during the Mass that I am nothing but a pencilled marginal note in the Book of Life. I am not in the main text at all."
Sources
- Chadwick, OwenOwen ChadwickWilliam Owen Chadwick, OM, KBE, FBA, FRSE is a British professor, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. He was also a rugby union player.-Early life and education:Chadwick was born in Bromley in 1916...
. 1988. Britain and the Vatican During the Second World War. Cambridge University Press.