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Loel Guinness

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Loel Guinness
BornTemplate:Birth date
Manhattan, United States
DiedDecember 31, 1988(1988-12-31) (aged 82)
Houston, Texas, United States
Occupation(s)Politician, Royal Air Force officer, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Years active1931–1945 (politics)
Known forMember of Parliament for Bath; fighter pilot in Battle of Britain; funding Calypso for Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Group Captain Thomas Loel Evelyn Bulkeley Guinness (9 June 1906 – 31 December 1988) was a distinguished British figure known for his roles as a politician, Royal Air Force officer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Representing the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Parliament for Bath between 1931 and 1945. Guinness earned acclaim as a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. Notably, he funded the acquisition of the Calypso, which he leased to the renowned ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau for a nominal annual rent of one franc.

Early life

Loel Guinness was born in Manhattan and spent his upbringing across both the United States and England. He was the sole male offspring of Benjamin Seymour Guinness, an Anglo-Irish banker whose wealth he inherited. His mother, Bridget Henrietta Frances Williams-Bulkeley, hailed from a well-established landed family in Anglesey. He had two sisters: Meraud Michelle Wemyss Guinness and Tanis Eva Bulkeley Guinness.

His education took place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he attained the rank of lieutenant within the Irish Guards.

Career

Following his initiation into flying lessons, Guinness became a member of the Royal Aero Club in 1928. By the following year, he was among England’s pioneering private airplane owners and enlisted in the Auxiliary Air Force squadron serving the County of London. Subsequently, he held leadership positions including president of Air Work Ltd., a company specializing in aircraft components, and British United Airways.

In 1931, after two unsuccessful attempts, Guinness secured election to Parliament representing Bath. He served as parliamentary private secretary to Sir Philip Sassoon, Under Secretary for Air, a role he maintained until his departure from Parliament in 1945.

Second World War

During WWII, Guinness rose to the rank of group captain within the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and actively participated as a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. In 1944, he commanded a wing within the Second Tactical Air Force. By the conclusion of hostilities, he had been Mentioned in Despatches on five occasions and was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1942. His military distinctions also included international awards such as Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands), Officer of France’s Legion of Honour, and recipient of the Croix de Guerre.

Personal life

Guinness’s first marriage was to The Honorable Joan Barbara Yarde-Buller (1908–1997), eldest daughter of the 3rd Baron Churston. Together they had a son, Patrick Benjamin Guinness,[1] who tragically died in a car accident near Rarogne, Switzerland.[2]

Joan eventually left Guinness for Prince Aly Khan, eldest son of Aga Khan III. Guinness successfully pursued legal action against Joan and Khan for adultery; the court issued him a decree nisi, awarded him full custody of their son, and mandated that Khan cover court expenses.[3] Following this, Joan married Khan shortly after their divorce was finalized in 1936.[4][5][6]

In 1936, Guinness entered into matrimony with his second wife, Lady Isabel Violet Kathleen Manners (1918–2008), daughter of the 9th Duke of Rutland.[7][8] The couple were notable figures within Palm Beach society.[9][10] Their union produced two children, including Serena Belinda Rosemary ("Lindy") Guinness, who later became Marchioness of Dufferin through marriage.[11]

In 1951, Lady Isabel obtained a divorce citing Guinness’s adultery; he did not oppose these allegations.[12]

On 7 April 1951,[13] Guinness married his third wife, Mexican socialite Gloria Rubio y Alatorre (1913–1980).[14][15] Gloria’s daughter, Dolores Guinness, later wed his eldest son.[11][16]

Guinness passed away on 31 December 1988 due to heart disease at The Methodist Hospital located in Houston, Texas, United States.[11] He was interred alongside his third wife at Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery in Lausanne.

References

Notes
Sources
  • Mosley, Charles, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, vol. 2, p. 1695.
  • Vickers, Hugo, The Unexpurgated Beaton: The Cecil Beaton Diaries as He Wrote Them, 1970–1980, Knopf, New York, 2003.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1931Birth
  2. ↑ Mr. Patrick Guinness Killed in Car Crash, The Times, 6 October 1965
  3. ↑ Decree Nisi for Mr. Loel Guinness, The Times, 5 November 1935
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1935Div
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1935Costs
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1936Abso
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1936Engagment
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1936Wedding
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1936Party
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1937Yacht
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named LGObit1989
  12. ↑ Decree Nisi for Lady Isabel Violet K. Guinness, The Times, 10 February 1951
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1951Wedding
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GGObit1980
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1961MrsGuinness
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Newill2015
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