Francis Egerton Grosvenor was a mining chemist, business executive, and sporting enthusiast. He lived at 1960 Robson Street in 1912. He later became the fourth Baron Ebury.
Francis Egerton Grosvenor was born on September 8, 1883, in Watford district, Hertfordshire, England. His father was Robert Wellesley Grosvenor, the second Baron Ebury (1834-1918). Francis’s mother was Emilie Beaujolais White (1844-1923), who was the daughter of Henry White, the first Baron Annaly.
Francis went to Harrow School, and later studied mining at the Canborne School of Mines and in London, England. He worked as a miner in the Isle of Man.
On July 21, 1902, in Truro, Cornwall, Francis married Mary Abraham Glasson. She was born in Cornwall in 1883.
Francis moved to Canada in 1903. He worked as a metallurgical chemist for the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia, followed by a period as chief chemist with the Hall Mines in Nelson, British Columbia.
In 1911 he became the assistant managing director of Norton Griffiths, a contracting firm. He later became the managing director of Norton Griffiths’s business in British Columbia. In 1912, the Duke of Sutherland employed Francis to organize an Imperial immigration scheme in Canada.
In 1912, he was living at 1960 Robson Street in Vancouver.
He was an enthusiastic polo player.
At the beginning of the First World War, Francis enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was wounded during the fighting, but he recovered from his wounds. He received the Military Cross and bar, the Distinguished Service Order and bar, and the Croix de Guerre with palms. He was mentioned in despatches four times.
After the war he moved to England, where he continued his business career. Among other things, he became a director of the Army and Navy Cooperative Society.
In 1921, Francis’s brother, Robert, died, and Francis became the fourth Baron Ebury.
Francis also became a director of the Union Bank of Australia and the West End Board of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company. For a time, he was a director of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
He continued his interest in sports, particularly hunting, polo and rackets. In 1930, he injured a hip muscle while hunting at Market Harborough in Leicestershire.
In March 1932, he was hunting with the Pytchley Hounds at Thorpe Underwood in Yorkshire. He was thrown from his horse and broke his leg. He spent several weeks in a nursing home, and he was apparently starting to recover, but he did not survive his injuries. He died on May 15, 1932.
Mary died at St. Ives, Cornwall, on October 13, 1960.
Francis and Mary had the following children.
Maud Elizabeth Grosvenor
Maud Elizabeth Grosvenor was born on April 8, 1909. She was married twice, first to William Edward Harcourt (second Viscount Harcourt); second to Lt. Col. Edward O’Shaughnessy. She died in Western Australia on February 15, 2000.
Robert Egerton Grosvenor
Robert Egerton Grosvenor was born on February 8, 1914. When his father died in 1932, Robert became the fifth Baron Ebury.
He went to Harrow School. He was a Lord-in-Waiting to King George VI in 1939 and 1940. During the Second World War he served with the Royal Artillery. He received the Distinguished Service Order for his service at Cassino in 1944.
He was married three times. In 1933 he married Anne Acland-Troyte. After this marriage ended in divorce in 1941, he married Denise Margaret Yard-Buller, who was the daughter of Lord Churston. This marriage ended in divorce in 1954, and he married Mrs. Sheila Anker.
He died on May 5, 1957, at Prescott, Cheltenham, while he was driving his Jaguar “C” type racing car. He was competing at the Bugatti Owners’ Club’s hill climb when the car hit a bank and turned over.
His son, Francis Egerton Grosvenor, became the sixth Baron Ebury.
Hugh Richardson Grosvenor
Hugh Richardson Grosvenor was born on November 25, 1919. He died on March 30 2002.
Sources
“Baron Ebury,” Debrett’s Illustrated Peerage, London, Debrett’s Peerage Limited and MacMillan Publishers, 2000, pages 550-551.
“Ebury of Ebury Manor,” The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Volume 2, Allan Sutton, 1982 (reprint of 1926 edition), pages 3-4. Also: Volume 14, addenda and corrigenda, 1998, unpaged (refers to volume 5, Ebury of Ebury Manor).
Robert Wellesley Grosvenor (Second Baron Ebury) (father of Francis Egerton Grosvenor)
“Death of Lord Ebury, The Age – Nov 20, 1893, page 5; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iS0RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VpEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2989%2C4445421
Court Circular, The Times (London), November 23, 1893, issue 34116, page 7, column f: “The funeral of the late Lord Ebury took place at half-past 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon in Northwood Churchyard, near Rickmansworth. . . .”
“The Late Lord Ebury,” The Times (London), November 24, 1893, issue 34117, page 14, column d.
Francis Egerton Grosvenor
Francis Egerton Grosvenor, Fourth Baron Ebury, Who Was Who, volume 3, 1929-1940 (second edition, 1967), page 401.
Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 4th Baron Ebury; The Peerage, M, #31469, b. 8 September 1883, d. 15 May 1932; http://www.thepeerage.com/p3147.htm#i31469.
Francis Egerton Grosvenor (1883-1932); http://www.ancestry.ca/genealogy/records/francis-egerton-grosvenor_11480315.
Francis Egerton Grosvenor, http://www.geni.com/people/Francis-Egerton-Grosvenor-4th-Baron-Ebury/6000000011204788752.
“England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2X2X-MSY : accessed 29 November 2015), Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 1883; from “England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Watford, Hertfordshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
“England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:263X-R8V : accessed 29 November 2015), Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 1902; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, Truro, Cornwall, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
“England, Cornwall and Devon Parish Registers, 1538-2010,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJHB-V1DT : accessed 29 November 2015), Francis Egerton Grosvenor and Mary Abraham Glasson, 21 Jul 1902; citing Marriage, Truro St George, Cornwall, England, Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q9J-XG3 : accessed 29 November 2015), Francis E Grosvenor, Apr 1911; citing Immigration, Eastern US Ports, United States, T-4690, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
“Recensement du Canada de 1911,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-MT1S : accessed 29 November 2015), Hon Francis E Grosvenor in entry for Sedney C Sykes, 1911; citing Census, Vancouver Sub-Districts 1-18, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,661.
Canadian Expeditionary Force; Name: GROSVENOR, FRANCIS EGERTON; Rank: MAJ; Date of Birth: 08/09/1883; Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3857A – 74; Item Number: 434770; http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=434770.
“Grosvenor Becomes a Peer; Noted Polo Player Now Lord Ebury,” Vancouver Daily World, November 8, 1921, page 9:
“Owing to the death of his elder brother, which occurred recently. Hon. Francis E. Grosvenor. late of British Colombia and Vancouver, is now Lord Ebury. The new peer has many friends here who are triad to know of his good fortune, although It was generally known that he would succeed to the title, as he was the obvious heir. He was very well known here before the war as a man-about-town, and one of the most enthusiastic poloists that Vancouver has ever had. It was owing largely to his efforts that polo was first introduced here. Hon. Francis Grosvenor first came out to Canada in 1903 and was for some time with the Canadian Pacific Railway, employed in the chemical department of their smelter at Trail. He was later variously employed In the Dominion department of lands and on the executive of the Norton Griffiths Company. In 1912 the Duke of Sutherland organized through him an imperial immigration scheme for Canada. At the outbreak of war he was one of the first to enlist, and crossed to France with the 6th Canadian Infantry. He was wounded in 1915, and the next year was appointed aide-de-camp to Brig.-Gen. H. D. B. Kitchen. He was awarded the D S.O., the M.C. and bar, the Croix de Guerre and palms for gallantry. Baron Robert Victor Grosvener, by whose death the former Vancouverite succeeds to the title, was fifty years of age. He made a celebrated marriage with an American heiress, a Southerner. The peerage was created in 1857 as one of Queen Victoria’s birthday honors. The wife of the new peer was very well known locally In Vancouver, and was much in demand in amateur theatricals. Hon. Mrs. Norman Grosvenor, also well known here, is Lord Ebury’s aunt. She came to Vancouver several years before the war in connection with the Colonial Intelligence League for Women, and opened the Queen Mary Hostel in Fairview, which for some time was operated as a stopping place for women newly arrived from the United Kingdom. It was closed when war broke out.”
Social and Personal, The Glasgow Herald – Mar 28, 1932, page 11; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bFVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JjQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2604%2C3989021: “Lord Ebury, who was hurt while hunting with the Pytchley at Thorpe Underood on Saturday, was stated last night to be much about the same, but comfortable. Both bones of the right leg were broken just below the knee.”
“England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVHD-41GK : accessed 29 November 2015), Francis E Baron Ebury Grosvenor, 1932; from “England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Marylebone, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
“Death of Lord Ebury; Result of Accident on Hunting Field,” The Glasgow Herald, May 17, 1932, page 11; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z59AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y6UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2647%2C2441345.
“Lord Ebury; Mining Engineer and Staff Officer,” The Times (London), May 17, 1932, issue 46135, page 12, column d.
“Lord Ebury; Business and Industrial Leadership,” The Times (London), May 18, 1932, issue, 46136, page 12, column d.
Mary Adela Glasson (wife of Francis Egerton Grosvenor)
“England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2X2L-PPP : accessed 29 November 2015), Mary Abraham Glasson, 1883; from “England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Redruth, Cornwall, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
“England and Wales Census, 1911,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7LW-JF9 : accessed 29 November 2015), Hr Mary Adela Grosvenor, Rickmansworth Rural, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England; from “1911 England and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
“England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCG-3V5H : accessed 29 November 2015), Mary A Grosvenor, 1960; from “England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Penzance, Cornwall, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
Mary Adela Ebury, death notice, The Times (London), October 18, 1960, issue 54905, page 1, column a.
Mary Adela Glasson (????-1960); http://www.ancestry.ca/genealogy/records/mary-adela-glasson_201350331
Maud Elizabeth Grosvenor (daughter of Francis Egerton Grosvenor)
Google Groups; Deaths, February, 2000, https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.talk.royalty/ip6G8k6cwoc: “The Hon Maud Elizabeth O’Shaughnessy, died in Western Australia, 15 February, 2000, aged 90. Born Maud Grosvenor, she was a daughter of the 4th Baron Ebury. She married firstly, 1931, [div. 1942], the 2nd Viscount Harcourt, who died in 1978. She married 2ndly, 1942, Lt-Col Edward O’Shaughnessy. She left daughters by both marriages. The Harcourt peerage became extinct in 1978.”
Robert Egerton Grosvenor (son of Francis Egerton Grosvenor)
Robert Egerton Grosvenor, Fifth Baron Ebury, Who Was Who, volume 5, 1951-1960 (third edition), 1967, page 335.
Robert Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury, Wikipedia article; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Grosvenor,_5th_Baron_Ebury.
“Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK3T-MBZG : accessed 29 November 2015), Francis Egarten Grosvenor, 1924-1952; citing M1463, Soundex Index to Canadian Border Entries through the St. Albans, Vermont, District, 1895-1924, 36, NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, publication year); FHL microfilm 1,570,749.
“Lord Ebury Killed; Car Crash in Hill Climbing Contest,” The Times (London) May 6, 1957, issue 53833, page 10, column b.
“Lord Ebury,” The Times (London), May 7, 1957, issue 53834, page 13, column c.
“Baron’s Death,” The Age – May 7, 1957, page 4, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_1QRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ppUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4425%2C916486.
“Misadventure Verdict on Lord Ebury,” The Times (London), May 18, 1957, issue 53844, page 4, column b.
“Where Are They Now?”; http://www.ecurieecosse.com/where-are-they-now.html: history of Jaguar XKC 046.
Jaguar C-Type, http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/series.aspx?makeID=75&nm=C-Type
Lord Ebury, Racing Sports Cars; http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Lord-Ebury-GB.html.
Hugh Richardson Grosvenor (son of Francis Egerton Grosvenor)
Hugh Richard Grosvenor, “Our growing family!!” http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=russell20&id=I105347.
“England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZN-RP15 : accessed 29 November 2015), Hugh Richard Grosvenor, Apr 2002; from “England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death Registration, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales, General Register Office, Southport, England.
Google Groups; https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.talk.royalty/hugh$20richard$20grosvenor/alt.talk.royalty/UyNQTgXP0a0/g7FqUMnc6v8J: “The Hon Hugh Richard Peter Grosvenor, died 30 March, 2002, aged 83. He was a younger son of the 4th Baron Ebury, and an uncle of the 8th Earl of Wilton.”
Robert Victor Grosvenor (Third Baron Ebury) (brother of Francis Egerton Grosvenor)
“Death of Lord Ebury; Service in South Africa.” The Times (London), November 7, 1921, issue 42871, page 12, column d.
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