Dominick Elwes | |
---|---|
Born |
Bede Evelyn Dominick Elwes 17 August 1931 Great Billing, Northamptonshire, England, UK |
Died | 5 September 1975 Chelsea, London, England, UK |
(aged 44)
Cause of death | Barbiturate overdose |
Resting place | Amberley, West Sussex, England, UK |
Nationality | English |
Citizenship | United Kingdom |
Education |
Ladycross Friends Academy (1940-1941) St. Albans (1941-1944) Downside (1945-1948) |
Occupation | Portrait-painter, editor, journalist |
Known for | Paintings, elopement scandal |
Spouse(s) | Tessa Kennedy (1958–1969; marriage dissolved); 3 sons |
Children |
Cassian Elwes Damian Elwes Cary Elwes |
Parent(s) |
Simon Elwes Gloria Rodd |
Relatives | Peter and Timothy Elwes (brothers) |
Bede Evelyn Dominick Elwes (24 August 1931 – 5 September 1975) was an English portrait painter, credited as Dominick Elwes or Dominic Elwes, whose much publicized elopement with an heiress in 1957 created an international scandal.
Elwes (pronounced "El-wez") was born on 24 August 1931 at Billing Hall, Northamptonshire, to English portrait painter, Simon Elwes (RA, KM), and the Hon. Gloria Rodd, daughter of the 1st Baron Rennell, PC, GCB, GCMG, GCVO), sometime British Ambassador to Rome, and Conservative M.P. for St. Marylebone (1928–1932).
Elwes is descended from the Roman Catholic Cary-Elwes (sometimes known simply as Elwes) family which includes such noted British prelates, priests and monks as Abbott Columba Cary-Elwes, Archbishop Dudley Cary-Elwes and Father Luke Cary-Elwes. He was the grandson of Gervase Cary Elwes (1866–1921), a diplomat, and Lady Winifride Mary Elizabeth Feilding, daughter of the 8th Earl of Denbigh. He was the nephew of the English novelist, biographer and journalist, Nancy Mitford and one of his cousins was Tremayne Rodd, 3rd Baron Rennell. For his early education, Elwes spent much of his childhood during World War II in the United States, after which he returned to England to attend Downside School in Somerset.