Rupert Gwynne

Infobox Minister
name=Rupert Sackville Gwynne

office = Financial Secretary to the War Office
term_start = 15 March 1923
term_end = 23 January 1924
primeminister = Andrew Bonar Law Stanley Baldwin
predecessor = Stanley Jackson
successor = John James Lawson
birth_date = 1871
birth_place =
death_date = 12 October 1924
death_place = Eastbourne, East Sussex
nationality = British
spouse =
party = Conservative Party (UK)
relations =
children = 4
residence = Folkington Manor
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Rupert Sackville Gwynne (1871 - 12 October 1924), was Conservative Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Eastbourne from 1910 to 1924.

Early years

Rupert Gwynne was the third eldest of nine children (two of whom died early). One brother, Roland, the youngest sibling, became the Mayor of Eastbourne from 1929 to 1931, and was the lover of the suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams [Cullen, Pamela V., "A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams", London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006, ISBN 1-904027-19-9] . One sister was the famous harpsichordist Violet Gordon-Woodhouse. Gwynne was educated at Shrewsbury School and then Pembroke College, Cambridge.Ken Good, "The House of Gwynne", Bookmarque Publishing 2002]

Career

Gwynne was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1908 and became MP for Eastbourne two years later. Gwynne was Financial Secretary to the War Office from 15 March 1923 until 23 January 1924. On 1 October 1923 he was made a member of the Army Council. [ [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=32879&geotype=London&gpn=7759&type=ArchivedIssuePage&all=Rupert%20Sackville%20Gwynne&exact=&atleast=&similar= London Gazette] ] He was renowned for his opposition to the Irish Republican Army which he termed "the Murder Gang".

Family

Gwynne married Stella Ridley, daughter of the first Viscount Ridley and had four daughters. One, Elizabeth, became Elizabeth David CBE, the celebrated cook. Gwynne appointed as their guardians Roundell Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne and Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham.

Death

Gwynne had had a weak heart all his life due to contracting rheumatic fever as a youth, but died suddenly of kidney failure on 12 October 1924, aged 53. His death certificate had the note 'No post mortem') suggesting the doctor, Lionel Handson, was uneasy about his death and called the coroner for his advice. [Cullen, 2006]

Sources