Henry Cust

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Henry (Harry) John Cockayne-Cust (1861 – 1917) was an English journalist and poet, and a Member of Parliament for the Unionist Party (i.e. Conservative Party), for Stamford, Lincolnshire 1890-1895, and for Bermondsey, 1900-1906.

He was born to Sara Jane Cookson and Henry Francis Cockayne-Cust,^[1] and was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, and then was called to the Bar. He edited the Pall Mall Gazette from 1892 to 1896.

Cust was one of The Souls, and attached to Pamela Wyndham (who later married Edward Tennant). Others in the clique were Margot Asquith, Arthur Balfour, George Curzon, Alfred Lyttelton, Godfrey Webb, and George Wyndham. He had a reputation as a womaniser, and was the reputed natural father of socialite and philanthropist Lady Diana Cooper, by the Duchess of Rutland. Cust has been rumoured to be the natural father of Beatrice Stephenson Roberts, the mother of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher but there is no real evidence for this (although it amused Lady Diana Cooper to refer to Mrs. Thatcher as her niece).^[2].

As the result of a purported pregnancy, he married in 1893 Emmeline Mary Elizabeth Welby-Gregory (1867 - 1955), known as Nina, who was the daughter of Victoria, Lady Welby. The pregnancy was either false or a misrepresentation, and the couple, whose marriage was thereafter contentious, did not have any children. Nina Cust was a translator and editor of her mother's papers. She and her husband are buried together in Belton, Lincolnshire, with a monument designed by her.

During World War I Cust was active in propaganda on behalf of the British Government.

Preceded by Edward Tyas Cook

Editor of The Pall Mall Gazette 1892 - 1896

Succeeded by Douglas Straight

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