Marmaduke Furness, 1st Viscount Furness

Marmaduke Furness, 1st Viscount Furness and 2nd Baron Furness (29 October 1883 – 6 October 1940), was a British shipping magnate.

Background

Furness was the son of Christopher Furness, 1st Baron Furness and Jane Annette Suggit. He served as Chairman of Furness Withy, the shipbuilding firm, and was also involved in the steel and iron business. He succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Furness in 1912, and in 1918 he was created Viscount Furness, of Grantley in the West Riding of the County of Yorkshire.[1]

Marriages and relationships

Lord Furness was married three time. His wives were:

  • Hon. Averill Furness (22 July 1908–1936); she married, in 1932, Andrew Rattray, 1882–1933
  • Hon. Christopher Furness, VC (1911–1940)
  • Roderick "Rory" William Cameron (1914–1985)
  • Patricia Enid Cavendish (born 30 Jun 1925)
  • Frederick Caryll Philip Cavendish, 7th Baron Waterpark (born 6 Oct 1926)

In June 1921, Lord Furness was engaged to Julie Thompson (née Julie Francis Eleanor Phillips, died 15 April 1967), an American socialite and former wife of stockbroker George Lee Thompson. She had previously turned down offers of marriage by other nobles including Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia and his cousin Grand Duke Alexander Michaelovitch.[1] The engagement was broken off.

Death

Lord Furness died on 6 October 1940, aged 56. He was succeeded by his younger and only surviving son, Tony, as second viscount.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Philadelphia Beauty Won By Peer As Brother Spurns Dukedom", Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 June 1921
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb 1921, full page on why she was buried at sea
  3. Goldsmith, Barbara, ed. (1982), Little Gloria...Happy at Last, Dell, ISBN 0-440-15120-1, retrieved 13 August 2010
  4. Fawkes, Richard (12 May 1995). "Obituary:Viscount Furness". London: The Independent.
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Viscount Furness
1918–1940
Succeeded by
William Furness
Preceded by
Christopher Furness
Baron Furness
1912–1940