George Cornwallis-West
Encyclopedia
George Frederick Myddleton Cornwallis-West (14 November 1874-1 April 1951) was a British
officer of the Scots Guards
. He was the only son of Col. William Cornwallis-West
(1835–1917) and his wife Mary, née FitzPatrick (1856–1920). The family moved in aristocratic circles but did not have a great deal of wealth. George Cornwallis-West was noted primarily for his glamorous marriages, the first to Jennie Jerome, mother of Winston Churchill
, and the second to the renowned actress Stella Campbell, who was also known on the stage as Mrs. Patrick Campbell. George Bernard Shaw wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle in his play Pygmalion
for Stella Campbell.
, who were nearly the same age as their stepfather. Jennie Churchill and Cornwallis-West separated in 1912 and divorced in April 1914, but continued to meet socially upon occasion. After their divorce she returned to her former name: Lady Randolph Churchill. On 6 April 1914 Cornwallis-West married Stella Campbell.
Cornwallis-West's sister, née Mary Theresa Cornwallis-West, was a noted society beauty. Known as Daisy, Princess of Pless
, she was the first wife of HSH Hans Heinrich XV, Prince of Pless. Another Cornwallis-West sister, Constance Cornwallis-West, became the first wife of Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster
.
In 1951 (after having been afflicted for many years with Parkinson's disease
), Cornwallis-West died by his own hand, leaving no legitimate children.
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...
officer of the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
. He was the only son of Col. William Cornwallis-West
William Cornwallis-West
William Cornwallis Cornwallis-West VD JP , was a British politician.Born William Cornwallis West, he was the son of Frederick Richard West, son of the Hon. Frederick West, younger son of John West, 2nd Earl De La Warr. His mother was Theresa, daughter of John Whitby...
(1835–1917) and his wife Mary, née FitzPatrick (1856–1920). The family moved in aristocratic circles but did not have a great deal of wealth. George Cornwallis-West was noted primarily for his glamorous marriages, the first to Jennie Jerome, mother of 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...
, and the second to the renowned actress Stella Campbell, who was also known on the stage as Mrs. Patrick Campbell. George Bernard Shaw wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle in his play Pygmalion
Pygmalion (play)
Pygmalion: A Romance in Five Acts is a play by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. Professor of phonetics Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can train a bedraggled Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to pass for a duchess at an ambassador's garden party by teaching her to assume a veneer of...
for Stella Campbell.
Personal life
Capt. Cornwallis-West and Lady Randolph Churchill were married on 28 July 1900, much to the dismay of her sons Winston and JohnJohn Strange Spencer-Churchill
Major John Strange "Jack" Spencer-Churchill, DSO, TD was the younger son of Lord Randolph Churchill and Lady Randolph Churchill , and brother of World War II Prime Minster, Sir Winston Churchill....
, who were nearly the same age as their stepfather. Jennie Churchill and Cornwallis-West separated in 1912 and divorced in April 1914, but continued to meet socially upon occasion. After their divorce she returned to her former name: Lady Randolph Churchill. On 6 April 1914 Cornwallis-West married Stella Campbell.
Cornwallis-West's sister, née Mary Theresa Cornwallis-West, was a noted society beauty. Known as Daisy, Princess of Pless
Daisy, Princess of Pless
Daisy, Princess of Pless , was a noted society beauty in the Edwardian period.- Early life :...
, she was the first wife of HSH Hans Heinrich XV, Prince of Pless. Another Cornwallis-West sister, Constance Cornwallis-West, became the first wife of Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster
Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster
Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster GCVO DSO was the son of Victor Alexander Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor and Lady Sibell Mary Lumley, the daughter of the 9th Earl of Scarborough...
.
In 1951 (after having been afflicted for many years with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
), Cornwallis-West died by his own hand, leaving no legitimate children.
Further reading
- Peregrine Churchill and Julian Mitchell, Jennie, Lady Randolph Churchill: A Portrait with Letters (London, 1974).