William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
(1855-1945), Fencer, rower and Liberal politician; MP for Salisbury and WycombeSitter in 18 portraits
Politician and athlete; President of the Oxford University Boat Club, Amateur Fencing Association, Marylebone Cricket Club, Lawn Tennis Association and the Olympic games held in London in 1908. He won a silver medal for Fencing in the 1906 Intercalated Games and was punting champion of the Upper Thames. Margot Asquith described him as 'a British gladiator, capable of challenging the world in boating and boxing'. He married 'Ettie' in 1887 and they became core members of 'the Souls', hosting house parties at Taplow Court. He became a Liberal MP for Salisbury in 1880 and later a Conservative MP for Wycombe in 1900.
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea
platinum print, 1890s
NPG Ax15717
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea
platinum print, 1890s
NPG Ax15721
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough as Mercutio
by Lafayette, photogravure by Walker & Boutall
photogravure, 1897; published 1899
NPG Ax41056
by James Russell & Sons
dry-plate glass negative, 23 November 1904
NPG x8461
Members of the Marlborough House Set
by David Knights-Whittome, for James Russell & Sons
dry-plate glass negative, 23 November 1904
NPG x8465
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 5 May 1921
NPG x120967
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 5 May 1921
NPG x120968
by Lady Ottoline Morrell
vintage snapshot print, 1925
NPG Ax142187
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour; William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Lady Ottoline Morrell
vintage snapshot print, 1925
NPG Ax142189
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Lady Ottoline Morrell
vintage snapshot print, 1926
NPG Ax142547
Julian Morrell and others at Garsington
by Lady Ottoline Morrell
vintage snapshot print, 1926
NPG Ax142550
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Olive Edis
matte bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1930s
NPG x5213
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 29 May 1933
NPG x167112
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough ('Men of the Day. No. 492.')
by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 20 December 1890
NPG D44521
William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough
by William Roffe, after a photograph by Marsh
line engraving, published 1890
NPG D2265
by Hal Hurst
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 11 June 1896
NPG D44807
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