Douglas Sutherland
Encyclopedia
Douglas Chalmers Hutchinson Sutherland (1919 – 28 August 1995) was a British author and journalist, who was born at Bongate Hall, Appleby-in-Westmorland
, in 1919. He always joked that the error of judgement in his not being born in Scotland
was compensated for a year later by his family moving to live in the remote island of Stronsay
in Orkney.
, and Sutherland followed his elder brother to Trinity College, Glenalmond. He joined the army in 1938 as a Private
with the King's Own Scottish Borderers
, though Sutherland was later commissioned into the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and saw active service during the Second World War, for which he was awarded the Military Cross
, twice being mentioned in Despatches. In 1945, he was posted to Field Marshal
Sir Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group Headquarters at Bad Oeynhausen
, where he joined the Allied Liaison Branch, and was an observer at the Nuremberg Trials
.
, the American lyricist, who was a friend of his first wife Moyra Fraser
, then a ballet dancer. Hammerstein presented him with his cast-off suits, and thus attired, he began working as a journalist for the Evening Standard
, and later, the Daily Express
.
Sutherland's life during this period is affectionately depicted in Portrait of a Decade, where he recalls many of the colourful characters of 1950s London, centred on Muriel Belcher
's famous Colony Club in Dean Street
, Soho
. However, he is best remembered for his best-selling humour series which began with The English Gentleman
, and was followed by The English Gentleman's Wife/Child/Mistress, and The English Gentleman Abroad. Although he later claimed that the English Gentleman
no longer existed, his observations on the species remain classic period commentaries.
But there was also a deeply serious side to his writing. His highly-acclaimed biographies feature such widely contrasting personalities as the sporting Earl of Lonsdale
(The Yellow Earl), and, with Jon Connell, founder of The Week
magazine, the life of the international fraudster Emil Savundra
, which won the Crime Writer's Silver Dagger Award for the best non-fiction crime book of the year.
In 1963, with Anthony Purdy, he published a book called Burgess and Maclean. At that time he had identified with total certainty that the fourth shadowy figure involved in the notorious spy ring of the 1950s was Sir Anthony Blunt
. So sure was Sutherland that in the course of his research he approached Blunt for a meeting over a drink at the Travellers Club
in London. Blunt's response was to threaten legal action should his name appear anywhere connected with the case. Further pressure was then placed on the authors from the highest level, and Sutherland and Purdy were obliged to suppress their information for reasons of national security. After Blunt's exposure some twenty years later, Sutherland immediately released The Fourth Man, the first full uncensored account of the intrigue.
Having married three times, Sutherland settled in Scotland with his third wife Diana. His latter years were marred by a dispute over the publishing royalties
of the English Gentleman series, and he died at South Queensferry
on 28 August 1995. His children include architect Charlie Sutherland, comedy performer Jojo Sutherland and curator Adam Sutherland.
Appleby-in-Westmorland
Appleby-in-Westmorland is a town and civil parish in Cumbria, in North West England. It is situated within a loop of the River Eden and has a population of approximately 2,500. It is in the historic county of Westmorland, of which it was the county town. The town's name was simply Appleby, until...
, in 1919. He always joked that the error of judgement in his not being born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
was compensated for a year later by his family moving to live in the remote island of Stronsay
Stronsay
Stronsay is an island in Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland. The main village is Whitehall, home to a heritage centre. It is in size, and at its highest point....
in Orkney.
Background
The family later moved to AberdeenshireAberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, and Sutherland followed his elder brother to Trinity College, Glenalmond. He joined the army in 1938 as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
with the King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
, though Sutherland was later commissioned into the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and saw active service during the Second World War, for which he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, twice being mentioned in Despatches. In 1945, he was posted to Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Sir Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group Headquarters at Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
, where he joined the Allied Liaison Branch, and was an observer at the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
.
Career
Returning to London at the age of 26, Sutherland would observe that his first challenge as a civilian was sartorial. To this end, he was helped by Oscar HammersteinOscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
, the American lyricist, who was a friend of his first wife Moyra Fraser
Moyra Fraser
Moyra Fraser was an Australian-born British actress and ballet dancer, who is best known for playing Penny in the long-running sitcom As Time Goes By. Her sister was the actress Shelagh Fraser...
, then a ballet dancer. Hammerstein presented him with his cast-off suits, and thus attired, he began working as a journalist for the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, and later, the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
.
Sutherland's life during this period is affectionately depicted in Portrait of a Decade, where he recalls many of the colourful characters of 1950s London, centred on Muriel Belcher
Muriel Belcher
Muriel Belcher was the founder and proprietress of a private drinking club known as the Colony Room at 41 Dean Street, Soho, London....
's famous Colony Club in Dean Street
Dean Street
Dean Street is a street in Soho, London, England, running between Oxford Street to the north and Shaftesbury Avenue to the south.-Historical figures:The street has a rich history. In 1764 a young Mozart gave a recital at 21 Dean Street...
, Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. However, he is best remembered for his best-selling humour series which began with The English Gentleman
The English Gentleman
The English Gentleman is a humorous book written by Douglas Sutherland and illustrated by Timothy Jacques, with an introduction by Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk...
, and was followed by The English Gentleman's Wife/Child/Mistress, and The English Gentleman Abroad. Although he later claimed that the English Gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
no longer existed, his observations on the species remain classic period commentaries.
But there was also a deeply serious side to his writing. His highly-acclaimed biographies feature such widely contrasting personalities as the sporting Earl of Lonsdale
Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale
Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, KG, GCVO was an English nobleman.-Biography:The second son of the 3rd Earl of Lonsdale, he succeeded his brother, the 4th Earl, in 1882. Lord Lonsdale was an avid sportsman and bon vivant and was known by some as "England's greatest sporting gentleman"...
(The Yellow Earl), and, with Jon Connell, founder of The Week
The Week
The Week, styled as THE WEEK, is a weekly news magazine.-History:It was founded in the United Kingdom by Jolyon Connell in 1995. In April 2001, the magazine began publishing an American edition; an Australian edition followed in October 2008. Dennis Publishing publishes the U.K. and Australian...
magazine, the life of the international fraudster Emil Savundra
Emil Savundra
Emil Savundra, born Michael Marion Emil Anacletus Pierre Savundranayagam was an indigenous Tamil businessman from Ceylon who later took British citizenship. He is known for having perpetrated financial frauds in several countries, culminating in the scandal of the Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance...
, which won the Crime Writer's Silver Dagger Award for the best non-fiction crime book of the year.
In 1963, with Anthony Purdy, he published a book called Burgess and Maclean. At that time he had identified with total certainty that the fourth shadowy figure involved in the notorious spy ring of the 1950s was Sir Anthony Blunt
Anthony Blunt
Anthony Frederick Blunt , was a British art historian who was exposed as a Soviet spy late in his life.Blunt was Professor of the History of Art at the University of London, director of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Surveyor of the King's Pictures and London...
. So sure was Sutherland that in the course of his research he approached Blunt for a meeting over a drink at the Travellers Club
Travellers Club
The Travellers Club is a gentlemen's club standing at 106 Pall Mall, London. It is the oldest of the surviving Pall Mall clubs, having been established in 1819, and was recently described by the Los Angeles Times as "the quintessential English gentleman's club." Visits are possible by invitation...
in London. Blunt's response was to threaten legal action should his name appear anywhere connected with the case. Further pressure was then placed on the authors from the highest level, and Sutherland and Purdy were obliged to suppress their information for reasons of national security. After Blunt's exposure some twenty years later, Sutherland immediately released The Fourth Man, the first full uncensored account of the intrigue.
Having married three times, Sutherland settled in Scotland with his third wife Diana. His latter years were marred by a dispute over the publishing royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
of the English Gentleman series, and he died at South Queensferry
South Queensferry
South Queensferry , also called Queensferry, is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the north west of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8...
on 28 August 1995. His children include architect Charlie Sutherland, comedy performer Jojo Sutherland and curator Adam Sutherland.