Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne
Encyclopedia
Bryan Walter Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne (27 October 1905 – 6 July 1992), was an heir to part of the Guinness family
brewing fortune, lawyer, poet and novelist. He married Diana Mitford
, but later divorced her.
, and Lady Evelyn Stuart Erskine, daughter of the 14th Earl of Buchan
. He attended Heatherdown
, Eton College
, and Christ Church, Oxford
, and was called to the bar in 1931.
As an heir to the Guinness brewing fortune and a handsome, charming young man, Bryan was an eligible bachelor. One of London's "Bright Young Things
", he was an organiser of the 1929 "Bruno Hat" hoax art exhibition, held at his home in London. Also in 1929 he married the Hon. Diana Mitford
, one of the Mitford sisters, and had two sons with her: Jonathan
and Desmond
. The couple became leaders of the London artistic and social scene and were dedicatees of Evelyn Waugh
's second novel Vile Bodies
. However, they divorced in 1933, after Diana deserted him for British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley
. Guinness remarried happily in 1936 to Elisabeth Nelson, of the Nelson
publishing family, with whom he would have nine children.
Guinness served for three years in the Middle East with the Spears Mission to the Free French, being a fluent French speaker, with the rank of major. Then in November 1944 Guinness succeeded to the barony
when his father, posted abroad as Resident Minister in the Middle East by his friend Winston Churchill
, was assassinated in Cairo
.
After the war, Lord Moyne served on the board of the Guinness
corporation, as well as the Guinness Trust
and the Iveagh Trust
, sitting as a crossbencher in the House of Lords
. He served for 35 years as a trustee of the National Gallery of Ireland
and gifted it several works. He wrote a number of critically applauded novels, memoirs, books of poetry, and plays. With Frank Pakenham
he sought the return of the "Lane Bequest" to Dublin, resulting in the 1959 compromise agreement.
Lord Moyne died in 1992 at Biddesden, his home in Hampshire, and was succeeded by his eldest son Jonathan
.
Guinness family
The Guinness family is an extensive aristocratic Irish Protestant family noted for their accomplishments in brewing, banking, politics and religious ministry...
brewing fortune, lawyer, poet and novelist. He married Diana Mitford
Diana Mitford
Diana Mitford, Lady Mosley , was one of Britain's noted Mitford sisters. She was married first to Bryan Walter Guinness, heir to the barony of Moyne, and secondly to Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, leader of the British Union of Fascists; her second marriage, in 1936, took place at the...
, but later divorced her.
Family
He was born to Walter Edward Guinness (created 1st Baron Moyne in 1932), son of the 1st Earl of IveaghEdward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh
Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, KP, GCVO, FRS was an Irish philanthropist and businessman.-Public life:...
, and Lady Evelyn Stuart Erskine, daughter of the 14th Earl of Buchan
Earl of Buchan
The Mormaer or Earl of Buchan was originally the provincial ruler of the medieval province of Buchan. Buchan was the first Mormaerdom in the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots to pass into the hands of a non-Scottish family in the male line. The earldom had three lines in its history, not counting...
. He attended Heatherdown
Heatherdown Preparatory School
Heatherdown Preparatory School was an independent junior school for boys in the civil parish of Winkfield, near Ascot, in the English county of Berkshire. It closed in 1982...
, Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, and was called to the bar in 1931.
As an heir to the Guinness brewing fortune and a handsome, charming young man, Bryan was an eligible bachelor. One of London's "Bright Young Things
Bright Young People
The Bright Young People was a nickname given by the tabloid press to a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London. They threw elaborate fancy dress parties, went on elaborate treasure hunts through nighttime London, and drank heavily and experimented with drugs—all of which...
", he was an organiser of the 1929 "Bruno Hat" hoax art exhibition, held at his home in London. Also in 1929 he married the Hon. Diana Mitford
Diana Mitford
Diana Mitford, Lady Mosley , was one of Britain's noted Mitford sisters. She was married first to Bryan Walter Guinness, heir to the barony of Moyne, and secondly to Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, leader of the British Union of Fascists; her second marriage, in 1936, took place at the...
, one of the Mitford sisters, and had two sons with her: Jonathan
Jonathan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne
Jonathan Bryan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne is a British peer and businessman. A member of the Guinness family, he is the elder of the two sons of Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne and his first wife Diana Mitford , and until his retirement was a merchant banker for Messrs Leopold Joseph.-Early...
and Desmond
Desmond Guinness
Hon. Desmond Guinness is an Irish author on Georgian art and architecture and a conservationist.He was the second son of the author and brewer Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne and Diana Mitford...
. The couple became leaders of the London artistic and social scene and were dedicatees of Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
's second novel Vile Bodies
Vile Bodies
Vile Bodies is a 1930 novel by Evelyn Waugh satirising the Bright Young People: decadent young London society between World War I and World War II.-Title:The title comes from the Epistle to the Philippians 3:21...
. However, they divorced in 1933, after Diana deserted him for British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
. Guinness remarried happily in 1936 to Elisabeth Nelson, of the Nelson
Thomas Nelson (publisher)
Thomas Nelson is a publishing firm that began in Scotland in 1798 as the namesake of its founder. Its former US division is currently the sixth largest American trade publisher and the world's largest Christian publisher. It is owned by the private equity firm Kohlberg & Company...
publishing family, with whom he would have nine children.
Public life
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Guinness served for three years in the Middle East with the Spears Mission to the Free French, being a fluent French speaker, with the rank of major. Then in November 1944 Guinness succeeded to the barony
Baron Moyne
Baron Moyne, of Bury St Edmund in the County of Suffolk, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1932 for the Conservative politician the Hon. Walter Guinness. A member of the prominent Guinness brewing family, he was the third son of Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh,...
when his father, posted abroad as Resident Minister in the Middle East by his friend 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...
, was assassinated in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
.
After the war, Lord Moyne served on the board of the Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
corporation, as well as the Guinness Trust
Guinness Trust
The Guinness Trust is the oldest member of the Guinness Partnership, a group of housing associations. It is a UK registered charity providing affordable housing....
and the Iveagh Trust
Iveagh Trust
The Iveagh Trust is a provider of affordable housing in and around Dublin, Ireland. It was initially a component of the Guinness Trust, founded in 1890 by Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, great-grandson of the founder of the Guinness Brewery, to help homeless people in Dublin and London...
, sitting as a crossbencher in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He served for 35 years as a trustee of the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
and gifted it several works. He wrote a number of critically applauded novels, memoirs, books of poetry, and plays. With Frank Pakenham
Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford
Francis Aungier Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford KG, PC , known as the Lord Pakenham from 1945 to 1961, was a British politician, author, and social reformer...
he sought the return of the "Lane Bequest" to Dublin, resulting in the 1959 compromise agreement.
Lord Moyne died in 1992 at Biddesden, his home in Hampshire, and was succeeded by his eldest son Jonathan
Jonathan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne
Jonathan Bryan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne is a British peer and businessman. A member of the Guinness family, he is the elder of the two sons of Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne and his first wife Diana Mitford , and until his retirement was a merchant banker for Messrs Leopold Joseph.-Early...
.
Further reading
- The Story of a Nutcracker (with Desmond McCarthy 1953).
- Gannon Charles: Cathal GannonCathal GannonCathal Gannon , was an Irish harpsichord maker, a fortepiano restorer and an amateur horologist.-Beginnings and education:...
- The Life and Times of a Dublin Craftsman (Dublin 2006). - Page at PGIL website