'Leila and Little Sommy'

'Leila and Little Sommy'


A carte-de-visite portrait of The Hon Mrs Somerset Gough-Calthorpe, later Lady Calthorpe, known as 'Leila' within her family. She is seen here with the first son of her second marriage, Somerset Frederick Gough-Calthorpe, later 8th Baron Calthorpe.

Born Eliza Maria Chamier, she was the only child of Captain Frederick Chamier of the Royal Navy. She married firstly Captain Frederick Crewe in 1854. The marriage produced one son but Captain Crewe died in 1858. His widow married en secondes noces The Hon Somerset John ('Jack') Gough-Calthorpe, fourth son of Frederick Gough-Calthorpe, 4th Baron Calthorpe. The marriage produced two sons and two daughters. At least two of the children were baptised at St George's in Hanover Square. According to the church's baptismal register, the family lived at 43 Lowndes Square in Belgravia.

Two of Jack's older brothers succeed as Baron Calthorpe but both died childless. A third brother had died at the age of sixteen so Jack eventually succeeded as 7th Baron Calthorpe on 22 July 1910, at the age of seventy-nine. He died on 12 November 1912, aged 81, at Woodlands Vale on the Isle of Wight and was buried nine days later at St John's Church, Perry Bar, Birmingham. Leila died on 26 August 1919, at the age of 86.

The baby in this portrait is Somerset Frederick Gough-Calthorpe. Born on 23 December 1862, he succeeded to the title 8th Baron Calthorpe on 16 November 1912. He died on 6 July 1940, aged 77.

Photographed in 1863 by 'Miss Gye' [no location specified].

From an album compiled by Leila's brother-in-law Augustus Gough-Calthorpe, later 6th Baron Calthorpe.

 


Code: 125859
© Paul Frecker 2024