Beatrice Beckett
Encyclopedia
Beatrice Helen Beckett was the first wife of the British statesman Anthony Eden
.
(1866-1937), a banker, Conservative
MP
, and chairman of the Yorkshire Post
, and his wife, the Honourable Mabel Theresa Duncombe (1877-1913). She was a relation of Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
.
was famously cut short after two days so her husband could campaign in Warwick
. Soon afterwards her husband entered Parliament
thanks to the voters of Warwick and Leamington.
The couple had three sons, Simon Gascoigne (1924-1945), a navigator in the RAF, Robert (b. 1928; died same date), who lived for fifteen minutes, and Nicholas
(1930-1985), who served after the war as aide-de-camp
to the Governor General of Canada
.
Although Beatrice's family press connections provided a useful boost to her husband's political career, by the early 1930s the Edens' marriage was in trouble due to Beatrice's loathing of politics, and Anthony's long hours and frequent absences at work. Anthony eventually realised that Beatrice was having affairs with other men, but suppressed his distress to negotiate an accommodation with her, by which the two agreed to lead largely separate lives in private, 'maintaining the fabric of their marriage until the strain became intolerable'.
Beatrice's separation from Anthony increased from 1941, when the family moved to Binderton House, near Chichester
, Sussex
, while Anthony, to meet his wartime responsibilities, lived in a flat in the Foreign Office. The marriage was dealt its 'final blow' when the couple's eldest son, Pilot Officer
Simon Gascoigne Eden, predeceased his parents after being reported missing in action
in Burma, in June 1945. Beatrice spent the rest of the war in Paris
, and in 1946 left Anthony to live in the United States
.
Two years later, Beatrice's former husband (the first divorcé to become prime minister) married Clarissa Spencer-Churchill. The Church Times
despaired that public approval for the second marriage 'shows how far the climate of public opinion has changed for the worse, even since 1936
'.
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
.
Early life
She was the third daughter of Sir William Gervase Beckett, baronetBaronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
(1866-1937), a banker, Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, and chairman of the Yorkshire Post
Yorkshire Post
The Yorkshire Post is a daily broadsheet newspaper, published in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, a company owned by Johnston Press...
, and his wife, the Honourable Mabel Theresa Duncombe (1877-1913). She was a relation of Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick was a society beauty, and mistress to King Edward VII.-Family:...
.
Marriage
In 1923 Beatrice married Anthony Eden, a rising young Conservative politician, during a lull in his first election campaign. Their honeymoonHoneymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
was famously cut short after two days so her husband could campaign in Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
. Soon afterwards her husband entered Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
thanks to the voters of Warwick and Leamington.
The couple had three sons, Simon Gascoigne (1924-1945), a navigator in the RAF, Robert (b. 1928; died same date), who lived for fifteen minutes, and Nicholas
Nicholas Eden, 2nd Earl of Avon
Nicholas Eden, 2nd Earl of Avon , styled Viscount Eden between 1961 and 1977, was a British Conservative politician and younger son of Prime Minister Anthony Eden and his first wife, Beatrice...
(1930-1985), who served after the war as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
.
Although Beatrice's family press connections provided a useful boost to her husband's political career, by the early 1930s the Edens' marriage was in trouble due to Beatrice's loathing of politics, and Anthony's long hours and frequent absences at work. Anthony eventually realised that Beatrice was having affairs with other men, but suppressed his distress to negotiate an accommodation with her, by which the two agreed to lead largely separate lives in private, 'maintaining the fabric of their marriage until the strain became intolerable'.
Beatrice's separation from Anthony increased from 1941, when the family moved to Binderton House, near Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, while Anthony, to meet his wartime responsibilities, lived in a flat in the Foreign Office. The marriage was dealt its 'final blow' when the couple's eldest son, Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
Simon Gascoigne Eden, predeceased his parents after being reported missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
in Burma, in June 1945. Beatrice spent the rest of the war in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and in 1946 left Anthony to live in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Divorce
Beatrice eventually insisted on a divorce, despite Anthony's reluctance, influenced partly by his sole surviving son's devotion to his mother, and partly by the hostility of church and press. The marriage was dissolved in 1950, 'on the grounds of his wife's desertion', after 27 years. The parting was amicable and the former couple remained friends.Two years later, Beatrice's former husband (the first divorcé to become prime minister) married Clarissa Spencer-Churchill. The Church Times
Church Times
The Church Times is an independent Anglican weekly newspaper. It is published in the United Kingdom on Fridays.The Church Times was founded in 1863 to campaign for Anglo-Catholic principles and has always been independent of the Church of England hierarchy. It was a family concern The Church Times...
despaired that public approval for the second marriage 'shows how far the climate of public opinion has changed for the worse, even since 1936
Edward VIII abdication crisis
In 1936, a constitutional crisis in the British Empire was caused by King-Emperor Edward VIII's proposal to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite....
'.