John Hervey, 7th Marquess of Bristol
Encyclopedia
Frederick William John Augustus Hervey, 7th Marquess of Bristol (15 September 1954 – 10 January 1999), also known as John Jermyn and John Hervey, was a British aristocrat and businessman, notable for his wealth, drug addiction, imprisonment on drugs charges, homosexuality and flamboyant lifestyle.
; he was their only child and his parents divorced when he was five years old. His mother remarried, giving John Teddy Lambton, a Newmarket racehorse trainer, for a stepfather, and then a half-brother, George, who became a Conservative councillor. His father remarried, giving him a half-brother, Lord Nicholas Hervey, by his second marriage, to Lady Anne Juliet Dorothea Maud Wentworth Fitzwilliam (currently Lady Juliet Tadgell
), only child of Peter Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 8th Earl FitzWilliam
. His father's final marriage was to his then private secretary, Yvonne Marie Sutton in 1974, giving him three more half-siblings, the incumbent Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
, and media personalities Lady Victoria Hervey
and Lady Isabella Hervey
. Due to a falling out with his father and a failed but lengthy lawsuit to obtain a portion of his estate, John Hervey did not have significant contact with these latter three siblings.
John's father, who had been jailed for jewel theft in his youth, was harsh to his oldest son, according to friends of the latter. "He treated his son and heir with indifference and contempt," said Anthony Haden-Guest
. The Marquess of Blandford
summed up the relationship: "Victor created the monster that John became." John was a ward of court for some part of his childhood.
In spite of a lifetime of homosexual relations, John married Francesca Fisher, then 20, just shy of his 30th birthday; it is not known whether they consummated their relationship. The marriage lasted for four years; they had no children.
, where he began to be known for drug and alcohol use; the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography designates him a "wastrel". The 7th Marquess was described by his friend Jamie Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford
, as a "complicated, reserved character, hiding behind a flamboyant personality".
He was frequently depicted in the British tabloids for his drug use, wild parties and homosexuality. He served two prison terms for drug offences.
Bristol even piloted his helicopter — without radar — while snorting cocaine
off the map he was using for navigation. The Marquess blamed some of his difficulties on what he called bad blood, that is, a "family disposition to depression
." He inherited a million pounds when he was 16 years old, and another four million five years later. He amassed a personal fortune worth up to £35 million, but by the time of his death at 44, it had "all slipped through his fingers — every last penny", according to The Times
. His estate was probated for £5000.
back to the National Trust
in 1998 in lieu of their evicting him for bad behaviour. He died of AIDS
the following year at the age of 44. He was succeeded by his half-brother Frederick William Augustus Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
(born 19 October 1979). Another half-brother, Lord Nicholas Hervey
, had committed suicide the previous year. His maternal half-brother, George Lambton, said the family had no hard feelings about the disappearance of the money.
describes the 7th Marquess as follows:
Family
John was born five years into the marriage between Pauline Bolton, daughter of a Kent businessman, and Victor Hervey, 6th Marquess of BristolVictor Hervey, 6th Marquess of Bristol
Victor Frederick Cochrane Hervey, 6th Marquess of Bristol , was a British aristocrat and businessman. He is notable for having served a jail term for jewel theft...
; he was their only child and his parents divorced when he was five years old. His mother remarried, giving John Teddy Lambton, a Newmarket racehorse trainer, for a stepfather, and then a half-brother, George, who became a Conservative councillor. His father remarried, giving him a half-brother, Lord Nicholas Hervey, by his second marriage, to Lady Anne Juliet Dorothea Maud Wentworth Fitzwilliam (currently Lady Juliet Tadgell
Lady Juliet Tadgell
Lady Juliet Tadgell , previously the Marchioness of Bristol, is a British heiress, race horse breeder and landowner...
), only child of Peter Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 8th Earl FitzWilliam
Peter Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 8th Earl FitzWilliam
William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 8th Earl Fitzwilliam, DSO , styled Viscount Milton before 1943, was a British soldier and aristocrat.-Biography:...
. His father's final marriage was to his then private secretary, Yvonne Marie Sutton in 1974, giving him three more half-siblings, the incumbent Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
Frederick William Augustus Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol , succeeded his elder half-brother the 7th Marquess in January 1999 as Marquess of Bristol...
, and media personalities Lady Victoria Hervey
Lady Victoria Hervey
Lady Victoria Frederica Isabella Hervey is an English model, socialite, aristocrat and former "It girl".- Background :Lady Victoria is the elder daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol and his third wife Yvonne Marie Sutton. She is the older sister of the 8th Marquess of Bristol and of Lady...
and Lady Isabella Hervey
Lady Isabella Hervey
Lady Isabella Frederica Louisa Hervey is a British socialite, model, and actress. She is the youngest daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol and his third wife Yvonne Marie Sutton, half-sister of the 7th Marquess of Bristol, and Lord Nicholas Hervey, both deceased, and sister of the 8th Marquess...
. Due to a falling out with his father and a failed but lengthy lawsuit to obtain a portion of his estate, John Hervey did not have significant contact with these latter three siblings.
John's father, who had been jailed for jewel theft in his youth, was harsh to his oldest son, according to friends of the latter. "He treated his son and heir with indifference and contempt," said Anthony Haden-Guest
Anthony Haden-Guest
Anthony Haden-Guest is a British-American writer, reporter, cartoonist, art critic, poet, and socialite who lives in New York and London. He is a frequent contributor to major magazines and has had several books published.-Family:...
. The Marquess of Blandford
Jamie Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford , commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is an English aristocrat and the heir apparent to the Dukedom of Marlborough ....
summed up the relationship: "Victor created the monster that John became." John was a ward of court for some part of his childhood.
In spite of a lifetime of homosexual relations, John married Francesca Fisher, then 20, just shy of his 30th birthday; it is not known whether they consummated their relationship. The marriage lasted for four years; they had no children.
Life
Lord Bristol was educated at Harrow SchoolHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, where he began to be known for drug and alcohol use; the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography designates him a "wastrel". The 7th Marquess was described by his friend Jamie Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford
Jamie Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford , commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is an English aristocrat and the heir apparent to the Dukedom of Marlborough ....
, as a "complicated, reserved character, hiding behind a flamboyant personality".
He was frequently depicted in the British tabloids for his drug use, wild parties and homosexuality. He served two prison terms for drug offences.
Bristol even piloted his helicopter — without radar — while snorting cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
off the map he was using for navigation. The Marquess blamed some of his difficulties on what he called bad blood, that is, a "family disposition to depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
." He inherited a million pounds when he was 16 years old, and another four million five years later. He amassed a personal fortune worth up to £35 million, but by the time of his death at 44, it had "all slipped through his fingers — every last penny", according to The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. His estate was probated for £5000.
Final years and death
Lord Bristol sold the remaining lease on the ancestral home of Ickworth HouseIckworth House
Ickworth House is a country house outside Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. It is a neoclassical structure topped by a giant rotunda in a park extending to 1800 acres. It is in the care of the National Trust, and, as part of the Ickworth House, Park & Garden property, is open to the...
back to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in 1998 in lieu of their evicting him for bad behaviour. He died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
the following year at the age of 44. He was succeeded by his half-brother Frederick William Augustus Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
Frederick William Augustus Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol , succeeded his elder half-brother the 7th Marquess in January 1999 as Marquess of Bristol...
(born 19 October 1979). Another half-brother, Lord Nicholas Hervey
Lord Nicholas Hervey
Lord Frederick William Charles Nicholas Wentworth Hervey was the only child born to the 6th Marquess of Bristol by his second wife Lord Frederick William Charles Nicholas Wentworth Hervey (26 November 1961–26 January 1998) was the only child born to the 6th Marquess of Bristol by his second...
, had committed suicide the previous year. His maternal half-brother, George Lambton, said the family had no hard feelings about the disappearance of the money.
Legacy
The SpectatorThe Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
describes the 7th Marquess as follows:
Born with an inheritance which included millions of money, thousands of acres, and oodles of style at Ickworth, the family seat, this flamboyant homosexual, charming but empty of soul, allowed himself to sink into a brain-mincing addiction to heroin and cocaine. Before the end he could not pass two hours without a snort, was frequently in prison, and was reduced to penury.
External links
- Times Online: Junkie marquess died penniless after spending millions on drugs
- The Independent: 'It' girls miss out after death of drug-addicted aristocrat
- The Independent obituary by Jessica Berens
- The Observer: The End of the Peer
- Bats in the family belfry review of The House of Hervey published in The Spectator, May 12, 2001