Rudolph de Trafford
Encyclopedia
Sir Rudolph Edgar Francis de Trafford OBE, 5th Baronet was a British aristocrat and banker who succeeded his brother to the de Trafford baronetage at the age of 77. Rudolph was born on 31 August 1894, the second son of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 3rd Baronet and Violet Alice Maud Franklin.
He attended Eton
, where he was friends with Marshall Field III
, and Trinity College, Cambridge
. After graduating with a BA in 1915, he fought in the First World War, being twice mentioned in despatches. In 1919, Rudolph joined Marshall Field in California for a vacation with Field's wife and children on Catalina Island
.
Rudolph married June Isabel Chaplin, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Chaplin (son of John Worthy Chaplin
VC), at St James Church, Spanish Place, St Marylebone on 6 February 1924. The reception was held at Seaford House
, which was lent to the couple by Lord and Lady Howard de Walden
and they honeymooned in Egypt. Their only son, Dermot
, was born on 19 January 1925.
By 1931, Rudolph was working in London for the Boston investment bank Lee, Higginson & Co.
, which had also employed Marshall Field III. Although the bank collapsed in the Swedish match scandal
in 1932, Rudolph continued to work for reformed company. In his capacity as the senior director in Europe of Higginson and Co, he negotiated at least two unsuccessful attempts at merger with the British investment house Kleinwort Benson
in 1936 and 1938.
During this period, Rudolph's marriage broke up. In 1936, he and June had leased the Loder
Dower House, at Cowfold
, Sussex. Then in April 1938, after 14 years of marriage, June de Trafford petitioned for divorce on the grounds of Rudolph's adultery in a London Hotel in November 1937. The case was uncontested and the courts granted June a decree nisi
along with custody of their son. In 1952, June remarried to Thomas Touchet-Jesson and became Lady Audley. They divorced in 1957 and June died in 1977.
Rudolph also remarried, on the 2 February 1939 to Katherine 'Kay' Lo Savio Balke the daughter of W.W. Balke of Cincinnati, Ohio
. He continued to work as a City of London banker, later being appointed director of the Royal Exchange
. In 1971, when his elder brother Sir Humphrey de Trafford
died with no male heirs, Rudolph succeeded him to the de Trafford baronetage.
Rudolph de Trafford died on 16 August 1983, two weeks before his 89th birthday, at his home in Eaton Square, London. His requiem was celebrated at St Mary's Church, Cadogan Street.. Kay de Trafford died on 15 September 1993.
He attended Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he was friends with Marshall Field III
Marshall Field III
Marshall Field III was an American investment banker, publisher, racehorse owner/breeder, philanthropist, heir to the Marshall Field department store fortune and a leading financial supporter and founding board member of Saul Alinsky's community organizing network Industrial Areas Foundation.Born...
, and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. After graduating with a BA in 1915, he fought in the First World War, being twice mentioned in despatches. In 1919, Rudolph joined Marshall Field in California for a vacation with Field's wife and children on Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
.
Rudolph married June Isabel Chaplin, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Chaplin (son of John Worthy Chaplin
John Worthy Chaplin
Colonel John Worthy Chaplin VC CB was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
VC), at St James Church, Spanish Place, St Marylebone on 6 February 1924. The reception was held at Seaford House
Seaford House
Seaford House, originally called Sefton House, is one of the grandest surviving aristocratic mansions in London, England. It is the largest of the three detached houses which occupy three corners of Belgrave Square in the exclusive district of Belgravia...
, which was lent to the couple by Lord and Lady Howard de Walden
Baron Howard de Walden
Baron Howard de Walden is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ of summons, by Queen Elizabeth I for Admiral Lord Thomas Howard, a younger son of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, in 1597. The title was reportedly granted for the Admiral's role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588...
and they honeymooned in Egypt. Their only son, Dermot
Dermot de Trafford
Sir Dermot Humphrey de Trafford, 6th Baronet, FRSA, VRD was a British banker, businessman and aristocrat. He was the son of Sir Rudolph de Trafford, 5th Baronet, and June Isabel Chaplin.-Early life and education:...
, was born on 19 January 1925.
By 1931, Rudolph was working in London for the Boston investment bank Lee, Higginson & Co.
Lee, Higginson & Co.
Lee, Higginson & Co. was a prominent Boston-based investment bank during the 1840s to 1932, home of many members of Boston Brahmin establishment. The bank collapsed in the Swedish match scandal in 1932 while under the leadership of Jerome Davis Greene. Also known for financing the growth of...
, which had also employed Marshall Field III. Although the bank collapsed in the Swedish match scandal
Ivar Kreuger
Ivar Kreuger was a Swedish civil engineer, financier, entrepreneur and industrialist. In 1908 Kreuger co-founded the construction company Kreuger & Toll Byggnads AB which specialized in new building techniques. By aggressive investments and innovative financial instruments he built a global match...
in 1932, Rudolph continued to work for reformed company. In his capacity as the senior director in Europe of Higginson and Co, he negotiated at least two unsuccessful attempts at merger with the British investment house Kleinwort Benson
Kleinwort Benson
Kleinwort Benson is a leading Private Bank that offers a wide range of financial services to private and corporate clients from offices throughout the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. The bank has its headquarters on St George Street in Mayfair, and is supported by seven UK regional and two...
in 1936 and 1938.
During this period, Rudolph's marriage broke up. In 1936, he and June had leased the Loder
Loder Baronets
The Loder Baronetcy, of Whittlebury in the County of Northampton, and of High Beeches in Slaugham in the County of Sussex, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 27 July 1887 for Robert Loder, who had previously represented New Shoreham in the House of Commons as a...
Dower House, at Cowfold
Cowfold
Cowfold is a village and civil parish between Billingshurst and Haywards Heath in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England, located at the intersection of the A272 and A281 roads. The parish has a land area of 1926 hectares . In the 2001 census 1,864 people lived in 729 households, of...
, Sussex. Then in April 1938, after 14 years of marriage, June de Trafford petitioned for divorce on the grounds of Rudolph's adultery in a London Hotel in November 1937. The case was uncontested and the courts granted June a decree nisi
Decree nisi
A decree nisi is a court order that does not have any force until such time that a particular condition is met, such as a subsequent petition to the court or the passage of a specified period of time....
along with custody of their son. In 1952, June remarried to Thomas Touchet-Jesson and became Lady Audley. They divorced in 1957 and June died in 1977.
Rudolph also remarried, on the 2 February 1939 to Katherine 'Kay' Lo Savio Balke the daughter of W.W. Balke of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. He continued to work as a City of London banker, later being appointed director of the Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange (London)
The Royal Exchange in the City of London was founded in 1565 by Sir Thomas Gresham to act as a centre of commerce for the city. The site was provided by the City of London Corporation and the Worshipful Company of Mercers, and is trapezoidal, flanked by the converging streets of Cornhill and...
. In 1971, when his elder brother Sir Humphrey de Trafford
Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 4th Baronet
Sir Humphrey Edmund de Trafford, 4th Baronet MC, DL was a prominent English racehorse owner, and the grandfather of Brigadier Andrew Henry Parker Bowles. He was the son of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 3rd Baronet, and Violet Alice Maud Franklin.-Early life:Humphrey was educated at The Oratory School...
died with no male heirs, Rudolph succeeded him to the de Trafford baronetage.
Rudolph de Trafford died on 16 August 1983, two weeks before his 89th birthday, at his home in Eaton Square, London. His requiem was celebrated at St Mary's Church, Cadogan Street.. Kay de Trafford died on 15 September 1993.