George Cornwallis-West

Major George Frederick Myddleton Cornwallis-West (14 November 1874 – 1 April 1951) was a British officer of the Scots Guards. George Cornwallis-West was noted primarily for his 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.

George Cornwallis-West
Born(1874-11-14)14 November 1874
Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales
Died1 April 1951(1951-04-01) (aged 76)
Westminster, London, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1895–1924
RankMajor
UnitScots Guards
Spouse(s)
RelationsWilliam Cornwallis-West (father)
Mary FitzPatrick Cornwallis-West (mother)

Early life

George Cornwallis-West was born on 14 November 1874. He was the only son of Colonel William Cornwallis-West (1835–1917) and his wife, Mary "Patsy", née FitzPatrick (1856–1920).

Career

Cornwallis-West served in the Scots Guards.

Personal life

Cornwallis-West and Lady Randolph Churchill were married on 28 July 1900. The wedding was held at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge.[1] They separated in 1912 and divorced on 1 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.

A Sketch Magazine illustration of Mrs. Patrick Campbell as Eliza Doolittle from 22 April 1914. Shaw wrote the part of Eliza expressly for Campbell, who played opposite Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Henry Higgins.

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 Hans Heinrich XV, Prince of Pless. Another Cornwallis-West sister, Constance, became the first wife of Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster.

In 1951, aged 76, after having been afflicted for many years with Parkinson's disease, Cornwallis-West committed suicide, leaving no legitimate children.

Portrayals in film and television

Cornwallis-West was portrayed by Christopher Cazenove in the 1974 Thames TV mini-series Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill.

Further reading
  • Peregrine Churchill and Julian Mitchell, Jennie, Lady Randolph Churchill: A Portrait with Letters (London, 1974).
  • George Cornwallis-West: Edwardian Hey-Days (London, 1934).
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References
  1. MacColl, Gail; Wallace, Carol McD. (2012). To Marry an English Lord: Tales of Wealth and Marriage, Sex and Snobbery. New York: Workman Publishing. p. 364. ISBN 9780761171959. OCLC 883485021.


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