Mary Elizabeth Maugham
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Maugham Paravicini Hope, Baroness Glendevon (born Mary Elizabeth Wellcome) (1915 - 1998) was the only child
of English
playwright, novelist, and short story
writer W. Somerset Maugham
and his then mistress, Syrie Wellcome
. Lady Glendevon also was the plaintiff in one of the most celebrated family-law trials of the early 1960s, when she fought her celebrated father's unsuccessful attempt to prove that she was not his child.
Her parents married in 1917, after her mother's divorce from the British pharmaceuticals magnate Henry Wellcome
. Her mother was a daughter of orphanage founder Thomas John Barnardo
. She was known as Liza, after her father's first successful novel, Liza of Lambeth
.
In his memoir Looking Back (1962) Somerset Maugham denied paternity of Liza. Around the same time, he attempted to have her disinherited in order to adopt his male secretary, suggesting that she was actually the child of Syrie Maugham and Henry Wellcome. The subsequent 21-month court case, fought in British and French courts, determined that Maugham was her biological father, and the author was legally barred from his adoption plans. Maugham's daughter was awarded approximately $1,400,000 in damages, comprising $280,000 in a cash settlement to compensate her for paintings originally willed to her, along with royalties to some of his books, and the controlling interest
in his French villa.
, Liza Maugham married Lt.-Col. Vincent Rudolph Paravicini, a son of the Swiss Minister (i.e. ambassador) to the Court of St. James's
, Charles Paravicini. Their first child, born in 1937, was Nicholas Vincent Somerset Paravicini, who grew up to marry Mary Ann Parker Bowles, sister of Andrew Parker Bowles
, of the earls of Macclesfield
. They had two sons and a daughter: Charles Vincent Somerset Paravicini (b. 1968), Elizabeth Ann Paravicini (b. 1970), and Derek Paravicini
(b. 1972), the blind autistic savant and musical prodigy. Nicholas and Mary Ann divorced, and around 1986 he married Susan Rose ("Suki") Phipps (born 1941), who had previously been married to Richard de la Mare and Derek Marlowe
. She was the daughter of Alan Phipps by his wife Hon. Veronica Nell Fraser, daughter of Lord Lovat
. Suki was brought up by Fitzroy Maclean, one of the inspirations for James Bond
. Nicholas and Suki had no children.
In 1941 Liza Maugham bore her second child, Camilla Paravicini, who in 1963 became the third wife of Manuel Basil Mavroleon, alias Bluey Mavroleon. They had two daughters, Syrie Elizabeth Mavroleon (b. 1965) and Sacha Mavroleon (b. ca. 1967). The Mavroleons divorced and Camilla married Count Frédéric Chandon de Brailles
, the champagne heir.
Maugham and her first husband divorced in 1948. That same year, she married Lord John Hope
, who later became the first Baron Glendevon. They also had children together, namely Julian John Somerset Hope, 2nd Baron Glendevon
) (b. 1950), opera producer, and Hon. Jonathan Charles Hope (b. 1952). Both brothers are unmarried.
Only child
An only child is a person with no siblings, either biological or adopted. In a family with multiple offspring, first-borns, may be briefly considered only children and have a similar early family environment, but the term only child is generally applied only to those individuals who never have...
of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
playwright, novelist, and short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
and his then mistress, Syrie Wellcome
Gwendoline Maud Syrie Barnardo
Syrie Maugham was a leading British interior decorator of the 1920s and 1930s and best-known for popularizing rooms decorated entirely in shades of white.-Birth:...
. Lady Glendevon also was the plaintiff in one of the most celebrated family-law trials of the early 1960s, when she fought her celebrated father's unsuccessful attempt to prove that she was not his child.
Her parents married in 1917, after her mother's divorce from the British pharmaceuticals magnate Henry Wellcome
Henry Wellcome
Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome FRS was an American-British pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He founded the pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome & Company with his colleague Silas Burroughs, which is one of the four large companies that merged to form GlaxoSmithKline...
. Her mother was a daughter of orphanage founder Thomas John Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo was a philanthropist and founder and director of homes for poor children, born in Dublin. From the foundation of the first Barnardo's home in 1870 to the date of Barnardo’s death, nearly 100,000 children had been rescued, trained and given a better life.- Early life :Barnardo...
. She was known as Liza, after her father's first successful novel, Liza of Lambeth
Liza of Lambeth
Liza of Lambeth was W. Somerset Maugham's first novel, which he wrote while working as a doctor at a hospital in Lambeth, then a working class district of London. It depicts the short life and death of Liza Kemp, an 18-year-old factory worker who lives together with her aging mother in Vere Street...
.
In his memoir Looking Back (1962) Somerset Maugham denied paternity of Liza. Around the same time, he attempted to have her disinherited in order to adopt his male secretary, suggesting that she was actually the child of Syrie Maugham and Henry Wellcome. The subsequent 21-month court case, fought in British and French courts, determined that Maugham was her biological father, and the author was legally barred from his adoption plans. Maugham's daughter was awarded approximately $1,400,000 in damages, comprising $280,000 in a cash settlement to compensate her for paintings originally willed to her, along with royalties to some of his books, and the controlling interest
Controlling interest
Controlling interest in a corporation means to have control of a large enough block of voting stock shares in a company such that no one stock holder or coalition of stock holders can successfully oppose a motion...
in his French villa.
Marriages and children
On 20 July 1936 at St. Margaret's, WestminsterSt. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
, Liza Maugham married Lt.-Col. Vincent Rudolph Paravicini, a son of the Swiss Minister (i.e. ambassador) to the Court of St. James's
Court of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
, Charles Paravicini. Their first child, born in 1937, was Nicholas Vincent Somerset Paravicini, who grew up to marry Mary Ann Parker Bowles, sister of Andrew Parker Bowles
Andrew Parker Bowles
Brigadier Andrew Henry Parker Bowles OBE is a retired British Army officer. He is the former husband of the Duchess of Cornwall , who is now married to the Prince of Wales....
, of the earls of Macclesfield
Earl of Macclesfield
Earl of Macclesfield is a title that has been created twice. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1679 in favour of the soldier and politician Charles Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard...
. They had two sons and a daughter: Charles Vincent Somerset Paravicini (b. 1968), Elizabeth Ann Paravicini (b. 1970), and Derek Paravicini
Derek Paravicini
Derek Paravicini is a blind English autistic savant and a musical prodigy. He lives in Surrey.-Biography:Paravicini was born extremely prematurely, at 25 weeks . His blindness was caused by oxygen therapy given during his time in a neonatal intensive care unit...
(b. 1972), the blind autistic savant and musical prodigy. Nicholas and Mary Ann divorced, and around 1986 he married Susan Rose ("Suki") Phipps (born 1941), who had previously been married to Richard de la Mare and Derek Marlowe
Derek Marlowe
Derek William Mario Marlowe was an English playwright, novelist, and screenwriter.- Life :Derek Marlowe was born in Perivale, Middlesex, and lived there and in Greenford as a child. His father was Frederick William Marlowe and his mother Helene Alexandroupolos...
. She was the daughter of Alan Phipps by his wife Hon. Veronica Nell Fraser, daughter of Lord Lovat
Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat
Brigadier-General Simon Joseph Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat and 3rd Baron Lovat KT, GCVO, KCMG, CB, DSO , was a leading Roman Catholic aristocrat, landowner, soldier, politician and the 23rd Chief of Clan Fraser. He was the son of Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat, and Alice Mary Weld-Blundell...
. Suki was brought up by Fitzroy Maclean, one of the inspirations for James Bond
Inspirations for James Bond
A number of real-life inspirations have been suggested for James Bond, the sophisticated fictional character and British spy created by Ian Fleming. Although the Bond stories were often fantasy-driven, they did incorporate some real places, incidents and, occasionally, organisations such as...
. Nicholas and Suki had no children.
In 1941 Liza Maugham bore her second child, Camilla Paravicini, who in 1963 became the third wife of Manuel Basil Mavroleon, alias Bluey Mavroleon. They had two daughters, Syrie Elizabeth Mavroleon (b. 1965) and Sacha Mavroleon (b. ca. 1967). The Mavroleons divorced and Camilla married Count Frédéric Chandon de Brailles
Moët et Chandon
Moët & Chandon , or Moët, is a French winery and co-owner of the luxury goods company Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton. Moët et Chandon is one of the world's largest champagne producers and a prominent champagne house. The company holds a Royal Warrant to supply champagne to Elizabeth II...
, the champagne heir.
Maugham and her first husband divorced in 1948. That same year, she married Lord John Hope
John Hope, 1st Baron Glendevon
John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Baron Glendevon PC , known as Lord John Hope from 1912 to 1964, was a Scottish Tory politician....
, who later became the first Baron Glendevon. They also had children together, namely Julian John Somerset Hope, 2nd Baron Glendevon
Julian Hope, 2nd Baron Glendevon
Julian John Somerset Hope, 2nd Baron Glendevon was a British opera producer and nobleman.Julian Hope was the elder son of Lord John Hope, later 1st Baron Glendevon and his wife, the former Mary Elizabeth Maugham, who was previously married to Vincent Paravicini and was the only child of novelist W...
) (b. 1950), opera producer, and Hon. Jonathan Charles Hope (b. 1952). Both brothers are unmarried.