Person    | Male  Born 20/1/1851  Died 28/7/1921

William Burdett-Coutts

Categories: Philanthropy, Politics & Administration

Countries: USA

Born of British stock in America as William Lehman Ashmead-Bartlett. On his father's death the family moved to England in 1852.

In 'The Story of Holly Lodge' by Margaret Downing, March 2009, we learn: "He first met Angela {the massively wealthy Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts} when he was ten, and she presented the prizes at his school in Devon. Deeply  impressed by his recitation there, she helped fund his education at Highgate School and then at  Oxford."

On leaving university in 1877 he became secretary to Angela who, despite being 37 years his senior, married him in 1881 and he took her name. After her death he continued her philanthropic work. Chairman of the Highgate Committee for enlarging Hampstead Heath. MP for Westminster 1885 until his death at home, Holly Lodge, Highgate.

He was younger brother to the politician Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, who had two sons: Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett (the war correspondent) and S. Burdett-Coutts. Interesting that one son took his wealthy uncle's name and the other didn't. (ref: King's College London), we wonder if "S" was William's heir?

Other men who have changed their surnames to incorporate that of their wives are the head spy Sir Mansfield Cumming and the eccentric Hedley Hope-Nicholson. Myddelton House, Enfield caused one man to adopt the moniker 'Henry Carington Bowles Bowles'. Edith Fletcher's brother added 'Aubrey' as a surname when he inherited from Charles Aubrey Aubrey. William Hill added his rich wife's Lewis to become Lewis-Hill. Women also have changed their names as part of an inheritance, e.g. Emily Carr-Gomm.

The circumstances in which an inheritance by a woman causes a man to change his name are covered by Anthony Trollope, in his 1879 novel ‘Cousin Henry’. On p64 Indefer Jones is struggling to decide whether he should follow tradition and leave his wealth to Henry, a distant male heir, or follow his heart and leave it to Isabel Brodrick, a much loved niece who is looking after him. His lawyer reports a conversation “He told me that he thought it right to keep the property in the direct line of his family. I endeavoured to explain to him that this might be sufficiently done though the property were left to a lady, if the lady were required to take the name, and to confer the name on her husband, should she afterwards marry.”

And later, p271, when Indefer Jones has died and Isabel has inherited and also become engaged, the lawyer informs her “You will have to undergo a variety of changes in signing your name. You will become first Miss Isabel Brodrick Indefer Jones, then Mrs William Owen, then, when he shall have gone through the proper changes, Mrs William Owen Indefer Jones.”

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Burdett-Coutts

Commemorated ati

Burdett-Coutts School

These improvements were carried out with trust funds in memory of the late Ri...

Read More

Other Subjects

Richard Carr-Gomm

Richard Carr-Gomm

Army officer and charity founder. Richard Culling Carr-Gomm was born on 2 February 1922 at Mancetter Lodge, Mancetter, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. He was the son of Mark Culling Carr-Gomm (1883...

Person, Armed Forces, Philanthropy, Germany

1 memorial
The Engine Room

The Engine Room

From their website: "The Engine Room helps activists, organisations, and other social change agents make the most of data and technology to increase their impact."

Group, Philanthropy, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Robert Bell

Robert Bell

Elizabethan seafarer. With Peter Hill he co-founded the St Mary Rotherhithe Free School, to educate the sons of local seafarers. In the nearby church of St Mary the Virgin there is a brass plate co...

Person, Education, Philanthropy, Transport

1 memorial
Fulham 2000

Fulham 2000

Supporters' organisation formed in difficult times to help Fulham Football Club remain at its historic home.   From Moments that made Fulham: "In February 1993, and with Fulham’s lease on the Cott...

Group, Community / Clubs, Philanthropy, Sport / Games

1 memorial
Richard Desmond

Richard Desmond

Wealthy publisher and philanthropist.  Born North London.  Owner of Express Newspapers.  Plays in a charity rock bank with Roger Daltrey.

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Philanthropy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Beau Brummell statue

Beau Brummell statue

SW1, Jermyn Street

This statue is placed at the entrance to Piccadilly Arcade.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
RNH - Princess Louise

RNH - Princess Louise

N7, Manor Gardens, Royal Northern Gardens

In 1997, as a condition of developing the RNH site, Bellway Homes (the developer) was required to create one acre of public open space - ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Thomas Burnet

Thomas Burnet

Geological theorist. Published "Sacred Theory of the Earth".

Person, Philosophy, Religion

1 memorial
Hoxton - WW1

Hoxton - WW1

N1, Bletchley Street, 3, Holy Trinity Church

The 2 stone plaques are embedded in the low retaining wall of the flower bed at the foot of the large blue panel. The difference in wordi...

1 subject commemorated
Celia Blairman House

Celia Blairman House

E1, Folgate Street, 31

There is an almost identical plaque on Philip Blairman House in Elder Street.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator