Susan Barrantes
Encyclopedia
Susan Barrantes was an English aristocrat related to the House of Stuart
and the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York
, and the maternal grandmother of Princesses Beatrice
and Eugenie of York
.
She was born Susan Mary Wright in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of FitzHerbert Wright and the Honourable Doreen Wingfield. Her maternal grandfather was Mervyn Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt
. Susan was the youngest of four children. She had two elder sisters, Brigid and Davina, and an older brother, Bryan. Brigid married Julian Salmond who was the son of Air Marshall Sir John Salmond and the Hon. Monica Grenfell. Davina married firstly Sir Richard Boughey, 10th Bt and secondly Spencer Loch, 4th Baron Loch. Her brother rose to the rank of Major in the Blues and Royals
.
.
She completed school and for a short time attended secretarial college. During the debutante season of 1954 Susan Wright was presented to the Queen
.
(1931–2003), who later played polo with Prince Philip and became Prince Charles's Polo Manager. Ronald and Susan had two daughters: Jane Louisa, born on 26 August 1957, and Sarah Margaret
, later the Duchess of York, born on 15 October 1959.
with professional polo player Hector Barrantes. It caused quite a stir in society circles and she was subsequently branded a "bolter". There was never any question of her daughters being allowed to go to Argentina; they were raised by their father Ronald back in England with the help of their extended family. Susan and Ronald Ferguson divorced in 1974. In 1975 she married Barrantes.
, Argentina
. Based on her writings and filmographic work, she recorded that aside from the birth of her two daughters, her life in Argentina was the happiest time of her life personally and professionally, since she had the chance to explore and develop a great documentary film career.
Her two passions, polo and film, were combined in a new profession. In addition, she assisted her husband's business of breeding polo ponies and cattle until his death from cancer in 1990.
Widowhood brought a new chapter to her life, along with some financial difficulties for Susan Barrantes and the global economy. She decided to start fresh once again, and relocated to a large flat in Recoleta
-Palermo borough of Buenos Aires
and sold more than half the farm to the polo-playing Australian media magnate Kerry Packer
and began commuting to Buenos Aires
for work.
In the 1990s, she set up a television production company there, making films about horses.
This last proyect became her dearest legacy of her professional life.
.
Susan Barrantes is buried beside her second husband in a vault beneath her home, next to a polo field on the "El Pucara" estate in Tres Lomas, Argentina. Her death came less than three weeks after the first anniversary of the death of
her daughter's former sister-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales
in a car crash. Susan Barrantes and her daughter Sarah both attended Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey
.
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
and the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
, and the maternal grandmother of Princesses Beatrice
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
and Eugenie of York
Princess Eugenie of York
Princess Eugenie of York Eugenie Victoria Helena; born 23 March 1990) is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
.
She was born Susan Mary Wright in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of FitzHerbert Wright and the Honourable Doreen Wingfield. Her maternal grandfather was Mervyn Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt
Mervyn Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt
Mervyn Richard Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt KP, MVO was an Irish peer.He was born to Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt, whom he succeeded as Viscount Powerscourt in 1904. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Wicklow on 15 February 1910 and created a Knight of the Order of St Patrick...
. Susan was the youngest of four children. She had two elder sisters, Brigid and Davina, and an older brother, Bryan. Brigid married Julian Salmond who was the son of Air Marshall Sir John Salmond and the Hon. Monica Grenfell. Davina married firstly Sir Richard Boughey, 10th Bt and secondly Spencer Loch, 4th Baron Loch. Her brother rose to the rank of Major in the Blues and Royals
Blues and Royals
The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal...
.
Childhood
The Wright family can be traced back to John Wright alias Camplyon of Stowmarket who made his will in 1557. His first son, Capt. John Wright, was imprisoned in Newark Castle for eight years for his attachment to the Parliamentary cause. He later acquired estates in Nottinghamshire and Suffolk. Captain Wright's grandson, Ichabod, was a banker who owned estates in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. He established Wright's Bank. His great-grandson Samuel Wright of Gunthorpe married a daughter of Lord Coventry. Samuel's brother John of Langar and Lenton Hall was a banker and principal proprietor of the Butterly Works. His granddaughter became the wife of the Earl of BuckinghamshireEarl of Buckinghamshire
Earl of Buckinghamshire is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1746 for John Hobart, 1st Baron Hobart. The Hobart family descends from Henry Hobart, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. In 1611 he was created a Baronet, of Intwood in the...
.
She completed school and for a short time attended secretarial college. During the debutante season of 1954 Susan Wright was presented to the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
Marriage
She met Lieutenant Ronald Ferguson. On 17 January 1956 at the high society church St Margaret's, Westminster, she married Major Ronald Ivor FergusonRonald Ferguson
Major Ronald Ivor Ferguson was the father of Sarah, Duchess of York, former wife to The Duke of York. He is the maternal grandfather of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York...
(1931–2003), who later played polo with Prince Philip and became Prince Charles's Polo Manager. Ronald and Susan had two daughters: Jane Louisa, born on 26 August 1957, and Sarah Margaret
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
, later the Duchess of York, born on 15 October 1959.
Divorce
She left her family in 1972 to move to ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
with professional polo player Hector Barrantes. It caused quite a stir in society circles and she was subsequently branded a "bolter". There was never any question of her daughters being allowed to go to Argentina; they were raised by their father Ronald back in England with the help of their extended family. Susan and Ronald Ferguson divorced in 1974. In 1975 she married Barrantes.
Argentina
Susan and her second husband Hector Barrantes moved to the ranch-mannor "El Pucara" in Tres LomasTres Lomas
Tres Lomas is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Tres Lomas Partido....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Based on her writings and filmographic work, she recorded that aside from the birth of her two daughters, her life in Argentina was the happiest time of her life personally and professionally, since she had the chance to explore and develop a great documentary film career.
Her two passions, polo and film, were combined in a new profession. In addition, she assisted her husband's business of breeding polo ponies and cattle until his death from cancer in 1990.
Widowhood brought a new chapter to her life, along with some financial difficulties for Susan Barrantes and the global economy. She decided to start fresh once again, and relocated to a large flat in Recoleta
Recoleta
Recoleta is a downtown residential neighborhood in the city of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina; it is an area of great historical and architectural interest, due, particularly to the Recoleta Cemetery located there...
-Palermo borough of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and sold more than half the farm to the polo-playing Australian media magnate Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
and began commuting to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
for work.
In the 1990s, she set up a television production company there, making films about horses.
This last proyect became her dearest legacy of her professional life.
Personal life
Susan remained firm friends with Prince Charles. Shortly before the automobile accident that took her life, Barrantes authored a book titled POLO with the foreword written by the Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
Death
On 19 September 1998, while leaving to purchase steak from the ranch where she kept ponies, the Rover 75 she was driving collided with a Renault catering truck on a two-lane highway in flat countryside. The driver of the truck suffered a broken ankle, but Barrantes was decapitated and killed, age 61.Susan Barrantes is buried beside her second husband in a vault beneath her home, next to a polo field on the "El Pucara" estate in Tres Lomas, Argentina. Her death came less than three weeks after the first anniversary of the death of
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Fayed's...
her daughter's former sister-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in a car crash. Susan Barrantes and her daughter Sarah both attended Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.