Subject

Born of British stock in America as William Lehman Ashmead-Bartlett. On his father's death the family moved to England in 1852. On leaving university he became secretary to the massively wealthy Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts, 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?

Another man who changed his surname to incorporate that of his wife was the eccentric Hedley Hope-Nicholson.