Rowland Hodge
Encyclopedia
Sir Rowland Frederick William Hodge, 1st Baronet (September 1859 – 21 September 1950) was an English
shipbuilder.
Hodge was born in Sunderland, the son of John Rowland Hodge and Emily (née Davis). He entered the shipbuilding industry and later founded his own company, the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company, of which he was managing director for more than twenty years. He was also chairman of Eltringhams Ltd, another shipbuilder.
He was created a Baronet
in the 1921 New Year Honours for his company's services during the First World War, despite a conviction in 1918 for "food hoarding". The Hodges were fined £600 and £100 costs for hoarding over a tonne in food. The BBC
programme Who Do You Think You Are? broadcast on 24 September 2008, in which model Jodie Kidd
traced her ancestors (Hodge was her great-grandfather), suggested that he may have bought his honour from David Lloyd George
, part of the scandal that led to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925
.
The programme reported that the archives of Parliament contain letters to Lloyd George, from Winston Churchill
complaining of having been offered a bribe of £5,000, and from King George V
complaining of the honour having been granted.
Hodge married Vera, Countess Cathcart, but at the age of 74 she sued him for divorce. This was refused due to lack of evidence. The Countess previously was denied entry to the United States because of "moral turpitude". She was banished to Ellis Island
for having had an affair with the Earl of Craven
, with whom she was planning to elope to Deauville
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
shipbuilder.
Hodge was born in Sunderland, the son of John Rowland Hodge and Emily (née Davis). He entered the shipbuilding industry and later founded his own company, the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company, of which he was managing director for more than twenty years. He was also chairman of Eltringhams Ltd, another shipbuilder.
He was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in the 1921 New Year Honours for his company's services during the First World War, despite a conviction in 1918 for "food hoarding". The Hodges were fined £600 and £100 costs for hoarding over a tonne in food. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programme Who Do You Think You Are? broadcast on 24 September 2008, in which model Jodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd is an English television personality and fashion model.-Early life:Jodie was a showjumper as a child and attended St Michael's School, Petworth.-Family:Jodie is the granddaughter from Hon...
traced her ancestors (Hodge was her great-grandfather), suggested that he may have bought his honour from David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, part of the scandal that led to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925
Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925
The Honours Act 1925 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that makes the sale of peerages or any other honours illegal...
.
The programme reported that the archives of Parliament contain letters to Lloyd George, from Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
complaining of having been offered a bribe of £5,000, and from King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
complaining of the honour having been granted.
Hodge married Vera, Countess Cathcart, but at the age of 74 she sued him for divorce. This was refused due to lack of evidence. The Countess previously was denied entry to the United States because of "moral turpitude". She was banished to Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
for having had an affair with the Earl of Craven
Earl of Craven
Earl of Craven, in the County of York, is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1664 in favour of the soldier William Craven, the eldest son of Sir William Craven, Lord...
, with whom she was planning to elope to Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
.