Rupert Gwynne
Encyclopedia
Rupert Sackville Gwynne (2 August 187312 October 1924), was a British Conservative
politician. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Eastbourne
from 1910 to 1924.
, Sussex
. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
and then Pembroke College, Cambridge
. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple
in 1908.
. He was Financial Secretary to the War Office
from 15 March 1923 until 23 January 1924. On 1 October 1923 he was made a member of the Army Council
. He was renowned for his opposition to the Irish Republican Army
which he termed "the Murder Gang".
as a youth, but died suddenly of kidney failure on 12 October 1924, aged 51. His brother Roland Gwynne
was the last person to see him alive. His death certificate had the note 'No P.M.' suggesting the doctor, Lionel Handson, was uneasy about his death and called the coroner for his advice. Roland inherited Wootton Manor
, but allowed Rupert's wife Stella and her daughters to remain there provided Stella did not remarry.
in 1905 and had four daughters. One, Elizabeth, became Elizabeth David
, the cookery writer. Gwynne appointed as their guardians Roundell Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne
and Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham
.
Gwynne's two older brothers, Reginald and Neville, were both disinherited by their father. Gwynne therefore inherited Wootton Manor on his father's death in 1915 and with his wife commissioned their friend Detmar Blow
to restore and extend the house. Other artistic friends included the painter Cedric Morris
, who painted Wootton in the 1920s and the writer and plantsman William Robinson
.
Gwynne's sister was the harpsichordist Violet Gordon-Woodhouse
. His youngest brother, Roland Gwynne
, later became Mayor of Eastbourne.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Eastbourne
Eastbourne (UK Parliament constituency)
Eastbourne is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election. Traditionally a safe Conservative seat, Eastbourne became very marginal following the 1990...
from 1910 to 1924.
Early years
Gwynne was the third eldest of nine children of James Eglinton Anderson Gwynne of Wootton Manor, PolegatePolegate
Polegate is a town and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, United Kingdom. It is located five miles north of the seaside resort of Eastbourne, and is part of the greater area of that town. Although once a railway settlement, its importance as such has now waned with...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and then Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1908.
Political career
Gwynne was elected as MP for Eastbourne at the January 1910 general election, and held the seat until he stood down at the 1924 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
. He was Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office was an office of the British government, the financial secretary of the War Office department.The post was combined with that of Under-Secretary of State for War from 17 April 1947....
from 15 March 1923 until 23 January 1924. On 1 October 1923 he was made a member of the Army Council
Army Council (1904)
The Army Council is a governing board for the British military organization. It was created in 1904 along with other institutional changes made in that year to the British Army....
. He was renowned for his opposition to the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
which he termed "the Murder Gang".
Death
Gwynne had had a weak heart all his life due to contracting rheumatic feverRheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
as a youth, but died suddenly of kidney failure on 12 October 1924, aged 51. His brother Roland Gwynne
Roland Gwynne
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Roland Vaughan Gwynne, DSO, DL, JP was Mayor of Eastbourne, Sussex, from 1928 to 1931. He was also a patient and close friend of the suspected serial killer Dr John Bodkin Adams.-Childhood:...
was the last person to see him alive. His death certificate had the note 'No P.M.' suggesting the doctor, Lionel Handson, was uneasy about his death and called the coroner for his advice. Roland inherited Wootton Manor
Wootton Manor
Wootton Manor is a Jacobean country house in Folkington, East Sussex. The current buildings are situated on the site of a mediaeval manor house. Rupert Gwynne and his wife settled in the house after their marriage in 1905, and later commissioned Detmar Blow to restore and extend the house and add...
, but allowed Rupert's wife Stella and her daughters to remain there provided Stella did not remarry.
Family
Gwynne married Stella Ridley, daughter of the first Viscount RidleyMatthew Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley PC, DL , known as Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bt from 1877 to 1900, was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
in 1905 and had four daughters. One, Elizabeth, became Elizabeth David
Elizabeth David
Elizabeth David CBE was a British cookery writer who, in the mid-20th century, strongly influenced the revitalisation of the art of home cookery with articles and books about European cuisines and traditional British dishes.Born to an upper-class family, David rebelled against social norms of the...
, the cookery writer. Gwynne appointed as their guardians Roundell Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne
Roundell Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne
Roundell Cecil Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne, CH, PC was a British Conservative politician, known as Viscount Wolmer from 1895 to 1941....
and Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham
Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham
Douglas McGarel Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham PC was a British lawyer and Conservative politician.-Background:...
.
Gwynne's two older brothers, Reginald and Neville, were both disinherited by their father. Gwynne therefore inherited Wootton Manor on his father's death in 1915 and with his wife commissioned their friend Detmar Blow
Detmar Blow
Detmar Jellings Blow was a British architect of the early 20th century, who designed principally in the arts and crafts style. His clients belonged chiefly to the British aristocracy, and later he became estates manager to the Duke of Westminster...
to restore and extend the house. Other artistic friends included the painter Cedric Morris
Cedric Morris
Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris, 9th Baronet was a British artist, art teacher and plantsman. He was born in Swansea but worked mainly in East Anglia...
, who painted Wootton in the 1920s and the writer and plantsman William Robinson
William Robinson (gardener)
William Robinson was an Irish practical gardener and journalist whose ideas about wild gardening spurred the movement that evolved into the English cottage garden, a parallel to the search for honest simplicity and vernacular style of the British Arts and Crafts movement...
.
Gwynne's sister was the harpsichordist Violet Gordon-Woodhouse
Violet Gordon-Woodhouse
Violet Gordon-Woodhouse was an acclaimed British harpsichordist and clavichordist, highly influential in bringing both instruments back into fashion.-Family:...
. His youngest brother, Roland Gwynne
Roland Gwynne
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Roland Vaughan Gwynne, DSO, DL, JP was Mayor of Eastbourne, Sussex, from 1928 to 1931. He was also a patient and close friend of the suspected serial killer Dr John Bodkin Adams.-Childhood:...
, later became Mayor of Eastbourne.