Anthony Marreco
Encyclopedia
Anthony Freire Marreco (9 August 1915 – 4 June 2006) was a British
barrister
. He was Junior Counsel at the Nuremberg Trials
, and later a founding director of Amnesty International
. He was also known for his romantic liaisons, marrying four times and having numerous other affairs.
Marreco was the only son of Geoffrey Marreco of St Mawes
in Cornwall
. Marreco's family were of Portuguese
descent, although his great-grandfather had become a naturalised British subject. He was educated at Westminster School
, where he met Mahatma Gandhi
and T. E. Lawrence
. He then attended RADA
but was expelled when he missed lessons to attend the Derby
.
In the Second World War, Marreco was commissioned in the RNVR in 1940, serving as a Lieutenant Commander
in the Fleet Air Arm
until 1946. He served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, and on HMS Formidable
.
Marreco was called to the Bar
at Inner Temple
in 1941. The Attorney-General, Sir Hartley Shawcross
, was a friend of his father, and he invited Marreco to become Junior Counsel in the British Delegation at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg
, also known as the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, in 1945 and 1946. He continued to serve as an adviser in post-War Germany
, until 1949, but never returned to the bar.
Marreco stood as a Liberal Party
candidate for Wells
in the 1950 UK general election, and for Goole
in the 1951 UK general election, but was unsuccessful both times. He was later a director of publishing company Weidenfeld and Nicolson and a banker with SG Warburg. He maintained homes at Port Hall, a Georgian
house in County Donegal
where he bred Charollais cattle, and in Shepherd Market
in Mayfair
in London
. In later years, he retired to Aldbourne
in Wiltshire
. Marreco lent his support to Peter Benenson
, the son of his neighbour in London, as when Benenson founded Amnesty International
in 1960, but resigned as treasurer in 1971 when Amnesty refused to investigate reports of torture
by British troops in Northern Ireland
.
He was married four times, but also had numerous affairs with other women.
He married Lady Ursula Manners, eldest daughter of the 9th Duke of Rutland
in 1943, but they divorced in 1948. While serving in Germany, he became the lover of Lali Horstmann, then aged 66, the widow of Alfred Horstmann. He then became involved with Louise de Vilmorin
through the late 1940s until 1951. He reestablished his relationship with Lali Horstmann in 1951, joining her in South America and remaining with her until she died in August 1954, when he inherited part of her fortune. He later took up with Loelia, Duchess of Westminster.
He married again in 1955, to Brazil
ian Regina de Souza Coelho, but marriage was dissolved in 1961. He married for a third time later that year to Anne Wignall (née Acland-Troyte). She died in 1982, and he remarried his second wife in 2004.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. He was Junior Counsel at the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
, and later a founding director of Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. He was also known for his romantic liaisons, marrying four times and having numerous other affairs.
Marreco was the only son of Geoffrey Marreco of St Mawes
St Mawes
St Mawes is a small town opposite Falmouth, on the Roseland Peninsula on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies on the east bank of the Carrick Roads, a large waterway created after the Ice Age from an ancient valley which flooded as the melt waters caused the sea level to...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Marreco's family were of Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
descent, although his great-grandfather had become a naturalised British subject. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, where he met Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
. He then attended RADA
Rada
Rada is the term for "council" or "assembly"borrowed by Polish from the Low Franconian "Rad" and later passed into the Czech, Ukrainian, and Belarusian languages....
but was expelled when he missed lessons to attend the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
.
In the Second World War, Marreco was commissioned in the RNVR in 1940, serving as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
until 1946. He served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, and on HMS Formidable
HMS Formidable (R67)
HMS Formidable was an Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy during World War II. She was constructed by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, and launched on 17 August 1939...
.
Marreco was called to the Bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1941. The Attorney-General, Sir Hartley Shawcross
Hartley Shawcross, Baron Shawcross
Hartley William Shawcross, Baron Shawcross, GBE, PC, KC was a British barrister and politician and the lead British prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal.- Early life :...
, was a friend of his father, and he invited Marreco to become Junior Counsel in the British Delegation at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, also known as the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, in 1945 and 1946. He continued to serve as an adviser in post-War Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, until 1949, but never returned to the bar.
Marreco stood as a Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate for Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
in the 1950 UK general election, and for Goole
Goole
Goole is a town, civil parish and port located approximately inland on the confluence of the rivers Don and Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England...
in the 1951 UK general election, but was unsuccessful both times. He was later a director of publishing company Weidenfeld and Nicolson and a banker with SG Warburg. He maintained homes at Port Hall, a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
where he bred Charollais cattle, and in Shepherd Market
Shepherd Market
Shepherd Market is a small square in the Mayfair area of central London, England. It is located between Piccadilly and Curzon Street and has a village-like atmosphere.- History :...
in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In later years, he retired to Aldbourne
Aldbourne
Aldbourne is a village and civil parish about northeast of Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. It is in a valley in the south slope of the Lambourn Downs, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. Marreco lent his support to Peter Benenson
Peter Benenson
Peter Benenson was an English lawyer and the founder of human rights group Amnesty International . In 2001, Benenson received the Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime Achievement.-Biography:...
, the son of his neighbour in London, as when Benenson founded Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
in 1960, but resigned as treasurer in 1971 when Amnesty refused to investigate reports of torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
by British troops in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
He was married four times, but also had numerous affairs with other women.
He married Lady Ursula Manners, eldest daughter of the 9th Duke of Rutland
John Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland
John Henry Montagu Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland was the son of Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland and his wife Violet....
in 1943, but they divorced in 1948. While serving in Germany, he became the lover of Lali Horstmann, then aged 66, the widow of Alfred Horstmann. He then became involved with Louise de Vilmorin
Louise Leveque de Vilmorin
Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin was a French novelist, poet and journalist.Born in the family château at Verrières-le-Buisson, Essonne, a suburb southwest of Paris, she was heir to a great French seed company fortune, that of Vilmorin. She was afflicted with a slight limp that became a personal trademark...
through the late 1940s until 1951. He reestablished his relationship with Lali Horstmann in 1951, joining her in South America and remaining with her until she died in August 1954, when he inherited part of her fortune. He later took up with Loelia, Duchess of Westminster.
He married again in 1955, to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Regina de Souza Coelho, but marriage was dissolved in 1961. He married for a third time later that year to Anne Wignall (née Acland-Troyte). She died in 1982, and he remarried his second wife in 2004.