Baron Hugh Colin Gustave George Halkett and Sarah Phelps Stokes
Born: April 15, 1861
Died: 1906
Married: Sarah Olivia Phelps Stokes
Children:
Chiefly known for:
From the Stokes Records, Vol. III, p. 12:
1890 … February 11th. Sarah was married at the Church of the Heavenly Rest by Bishop Potter, assisted by the Rev. D. Parker Morgan, to Hugh Colin Gustav George, Baron Halkett, of London and Felsdorfermuhlen, Hanover. He was born 15th April, 1861. His father had been prime minister of Hanover, and his great-grandfather was the Colonel Halkett of the Hanoverian auxiliaries who personally captured the French General Cambronne, commander of the Imperial Guard, at Waterloo. At the annual Waterloo dinner the Duke of Wellington used to drink to the memory of brave Colonel Halkett. Hugh's uncle was colonel of the Coldstream Guards. One of his ancestors was Mary Seton, lady in waiting to Mary Queen of Scots. [He had some old silver belonging to Queen Mary, including a tankard which had been altered into a teapot.]
He owned Felsdorfermuhlen, but lived in Curzon Street, London.
From the Stokes Records, Vol. III, p. 32:
[1892] When Baron Halkett and Sarah were living at Newton House, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Gladstone visited them, and it was while accompanying them to a political meeting that Mr. Gladstone was struck in the eye by a piece of gingerbread thrown by a woman political opponent. Sarah kept part of the historic gingerbread.
The only occasion during this campaign when Mr. Gladstone addressed a public meeting in the interest of a parliamentary candidate was on behalf of Baron Halkett, who stood for the borough of Chester at the request of Mr. Herbert Gladstone.
It was supposed that the Duke of Westminster would not actively oppose Baron Halkett's election, but a bill having been introduced in Parliament by the Liberals to tax ground rents, the duke's opposition became very active. He was the landlord of half of Chester. The duke, formerly one of the strongest supporters of Mr. Gladstone, now bitterly opposed him and Home Rule.
Baron Halkett was attacked for his Hanoverian title, although his title was specially authorized by royal license to be used in Great Britain, and the Queen was herself Hanoverian—Hanover having formerly been joined to England much as Scotland now is.
From the Stokes Records, Vol. III, p. 114:
April 24th. Evelyn Bradshaw, Baron Halkett's cousin, called on Helen, and told me particulars about his death, 4th March, 1904. He was serving in the war in South Africa, got a slight hurt on his head, and had to have this operated on, when evidence was found of the effects of a more serious injury which he had sustained when, before his marriage, his horse fell with him in Hyde Park, and he struck on his head, fractured his skull and became unconscious, remaining for some time in hospital at Hyde Park Corner. Miss Bradshaw appeared to think that this earlier injury might account for some of his later actions.
