Mark Birley

Mark Birley

Marcus Lecky Oswald Hornby Birley (30 May 1930 – 24 August 2007), known as Mark Birley, was a British entrepreneur known for his investments in the hospitality industry. He was educated at Eton where he excelled at drawing, after doing his National Service he went up to University College, Oxford to read PPE but left after a year.

Contents

Career

In 1962 Mark Birley founded Annabel's at Berkeley Square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London. The club was named for his wife, the former Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, and it was the first of its kind: a member-only nightclub that catered to an exclusive clientele, including Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

In 1972 Birley opened Mark's Club and continued to expand his portfolio in the restaurant, nightclub and hotel business. He became the owner of the Annabel's Group, which includes Mark Birley Holdings Limited. He launched a men's fragrance line, Mark Birley for Men, in 1996, in collaboration with the perfumers Frédéric Malle and Pierre Bourdon.

Private life

Mark Birley was the son of Sir Oswald Birley, the portrait painter, and his wife, the former Rhoda Pike. His sister, Maxime de la Falaise, became a noted fashion model of the 1950s and her daughter is Loulou de la Falaise who was a muse to the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.

On 10 March 1954 he married Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, daughter of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry. They had three children Rupert, Robin and India Jane.

Annabel Birley became the mistress of Birley's former friend Sir James Goldsmith, and gave birth to two of Goldsmith's children while she was still married to, but separated from, Birley. The Birleys divorced in 1975.[1]

As a child Birley's son Robin was mauled and badly scarred for life by a tiger at the private zoo of family friend John Aspinall. In 1986 Birley's other son, Rupert, disappeared in Togo and was never found. He is supposed to have died. In his last years, Birley himself was disabled and needed to use a wheelchair. For a time, he turned over the reins of his businesses to his two surviving children. In 2006, however, Birley dismissed his son Robin and returned to the helm of his empire, which until his death he ran with his daughter India Jane.

Death

He died on 24 August 2007, aged 77, following a stroke.

References


References

  1. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/27/db2701.xml&page=1



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Birley (surname) — Birley is a common English surname, and may refer to any of the following people:*Andrew Birley (born 1974), British archaeologist, son of Robin Birley (archaeologist) and Patricia Birley *Anthony Birley (born 1937), Professor of Ancient History… …   Wikipedia

  • Mark Aurel — Glyptothek München Mark Aurel[1] (* 26. April 121 in Rom; † 17. März 180 in Vindobona oder eventuell Sirmium) war von 161 bis 180 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Birley — For other uses, see Birley (disambiguation). Coordinates: 53°20′42″N 1°23′38″W / 53.345°N 1.394°W / 53.345; 1.394 …   Wikipedia

  • Mark Aurel — Mạrk Aurel,   Mạrcus Aurelius Antoninus, ursprünglich Mạrcus Ạnnius Verus (bis 138), römischer Kaiser (seit 161), * Rom 26. 4. 121, ✝ Vindobona (heute Wien) 17. 3. 180. Aus vornehmer Senatorenfamilie stammend, wurde er auf Anregung Hadrians… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Oswald Birley — Oswald Birley, Sir George Stanley (Governor of Fort St George). Government Museum Chennai, India Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley, MC, RA (31 March 1880 – 6 May 1952) was an English portrait painter in the early part of the 20th century …   Wikipedia

  • Mathew Birley — Personal information Full name Mathew Mark Birley Date of birth 26 July 1986 ( …   Wikipedia

  • Robin Birley (businessman) — Robin Birley (born 19 February 1958) is an English businessman and political activist. He is the son of Lady Annabel Vane Tempest Stewart and nightclub owner Mark Birley. He had a brother, Rupert (disappeared and presumed deceased) and a sister,… …   Wikipedia

  • Oswald Birley — Sir Oswald Birley (31 mars 1880 6 mai 1952) est un peintre anglais, spécialisé dans les portraits, notamment des personnalités royales. Biographie Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley est né en Nouvelle Zélande. Il appartient à une vieille famille du… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • India Jane Birley — (born 14 January 1961) is a British artist and businessperson. She was a co owner/manager of her father s London nightclub, Annabel s, as well as some of her father s other establishments. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi qn4153/is… …   Wikipedia

  • Anthony R. Birley — Anthony Richard Birley (* 8. Oktober 1937 in Chesterholm) ist ein britischer Althistoriker. Der Sohn des britischen Archäologen Eric Birley besuchte das Clifton College in Bristol (1950 bis 1955) und das Magdalen College in Oxford (1956 bis 1963) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”