Clark and Hogg Family History

Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey
1858 - 1923

Katherine Elsie Clark was the daughter of William Robinson Clark.

Katherine Elsie Clark married Albert Henry Petre, the son of the 11th Baron Petre.

After Albert Henry Petre died in 1917, Katherine Elsie Clark married
Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey in 1919.

Sir Charles Hawtrey was a Victorian actor, comedian and theatre owner/producer and he later appeared in some of the first silent movies.

He was born at Eton, where his father (Rev. John William Hawtrey), was master of the lower school, and educated at Eton, Rugby and at Pembroke College, Oxford. He took to the stage in 1881, and in 1883 adapted The Private Secretary, which had an enormous success. He then appeared in London in a number of modern plays. Among his later successes, "A Message from Mars" was particularly popular in London and in America.

He was a mentor to the younger Noel Coward, who was "apprenticed" to him.

He was knighted by the King of England (George V) on 1st January 1922, becoming Sir Charles Hawtrey, and his wife, Lady Katherine Elsie Hawtrey.

See links at the IMDB for Sir Charles Hawtrey and the Sir Charles Hawtrey films.

Sir Charles often frequented the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel (located close to the theatres) and was responsible for the naming of the Hanky-panky cocktail. See the link for background to the naming of the Hanky-panky cocktail.

Lupec-Boston link

Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey
Sir Charles Hawtrey

Sir Charles Hawtrey appears to have been skilled at playing the loveable rogue and the plausible liar.

As a result he may have become somewhat typecast in what was later described as the "Hawtrey style" or a "Hawtrey part", so well did he do it.

He was described as "the best stage liar of his time".

He was very debonair and always immaculately dressed and well-spoken.

Sir Charles was also believed to be a gambler with a liking for the "turf", who although he earned a lot never seemed to have much money. He left £1180 in his will when he died in 1923.

He was quoted "I lost half-a-crown at a small race meeting. Ever since, I've been trying to get that half-crown back, and it must have cost me half a million."

Death of Sir Charles Hawtrey

Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey died in 1923 and is buried at Richmond Churchyard, London.

"A cross stands to Charles Hawtrey,
the actor-manager who had many great successes."

His sisters Mabel and Mildred Hawtrey are also buried at Richmond.

His wife Katherine Elsie Hawtrey (nee Clark) died in 1930.

Autobiography of Sir Charles Hawtrey

His biography - "The Truth at Last from Charles Hawtrey" by Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey was edited and finished (after his death) by W. Somerset Maugham. Published by London: Thornton Butterworth, 1924. pp. 352: plates; ports. 23 cm.

Links for Katherine Elsie Hawtrey (nee Petre, nee Clark)

See link for Katherine Elsie Hawtrey at the Theatre Museum: Victoria & Albert Museum Ekstrom Collection: Diaghilev and Stravinsky Foundation, 1902-1984 and the Telegram from Lady Katherine Elsie Hawtrey to Serge Diaghilev (the world famous Russian ballet dancer)
1 page, ref: THM/7/2/1/4/113 1927 July 22

Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey should not to be confused with the unrelated "Carry On ....." actor (George Hartree) who adopted the same name after the death of Sir Charles in a cynical attempt to capitalise upon his popularity.

Wrong one - actor who changed his name
wrong one !

Sir Charles Hawtrey links and info

1911 WHERE THE RAINBOW ENDS - A patriotic play about St. George and the dragon directed by Sir Charles Hawtrey. Hermione Gingold (aged 14) understudied the lead but never went on. A youthful Noel Coward was also in the cast.

It is worth turning over the pages of "Actors of the Century", 1898, a bulky volume which contains portraits of nearly a hundred theatrical people varying from Mrs Siddons to Charles Hawtrey.

There are portraits of Sir Charles Hawtrey in the National Portrait Gallery, London
- see portraits in the National Portrait Gallery

The Hawtrey Comedy Company, possibly involving his brothers William Francis Hawtrey and
George Proctor Hawtrey (who translated some plays) were involved in theatre production with Charles Hawtrey.

Plays of Sir Charles Hawtrey (more info will be added)

Year	Play
1883	The Private Secretary
	Money
1911	Where the Rainbow Ends
	Message from Mars
	An Ideal Husband
	Home and Beauty
	Lod and Lady Algy
	The Man from Blankney's
	Dear Old Charlie
	General John Regan
	Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure
1920's	His Lady Friends - St James Theatre

See also Internet Broadway database for USA
(note they currently have the wrong bio information).

Films of Sir Charles Hawtrey

Message from Mars, A (1913) ...as Horace Parker see notes
Honeymoon for Three (1915) ....as Prince Ferdinand
Masks and Faces (1918)

The film Masks and Faces (see cast and details) was made in 1917/8 to raise funds for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). Charles Hawtrey together with (Sir) George Alexander, George Bernard Shaw, Sir JM Barrie appear to have cameo roles in the film. Hawtrey was nearly sixty at the time it was made. As part of the NFT RADA Centenary Gala Event the film will be shown.
- see Centenary GALA Event showing of Masks and Faces - 9th May 2004

see information about the Private Secretary at the Prince of Wales Theatre - Arthur Lloyd site

A Times review in 1958 - 35 years after his death

(kindly supplied by Matthew Lloyd - see Arthur Lloyd site)

Globe Theatre Production 1886 - Programme

pickpocket production at the Globe Theatre

(kindly supplied by Matthew Lloyd - see Arthur Lloyd site)

George Proctor Hawtrey was the brother of Charles Hawtrey

Vanity Fair cartoons

HAWTREY Mr Charles. 'From Eton to the Stage'. Actor-manager. Educated Eton. Oxford. A debonair figure in white tie and tails. Buttonhole. Coloured. Overall size c. 8x14 ins. By Spy. 1892.05.21
Maps and Prints

Adelphi theatre 1806-1900

Rev John William Hawtrey - Father of Charles Hawtrey

Aldin House (now known as St Bernard's convent) was built for Baroness Burdett-Coutts who was a close friend of Queen Victoria until she contracted a marriage that displeased the Sovereign. .The Baroness never lived at the house presumably to avoid being too close to Queen Victoria at Windsor.

On 22 September 1869 Aldin House became a school under Rev John William Hawtrey who was a formerly an assistant master at Eton. The old 'Dolphin Inn' closed when the school opened. Stanley Baldwin (later Earl Baldwin of Bewdley) attended St. Michael's school in his early days. The school later moved to Westgate-on- Sea. A foundation school exclusively for girls of Welsh Parentage was then set up at Aldin House. Continuing the affinity with teaching, St George's School, Southwark took over Aldin House while their own building repairs were under way.

Windsor and Eton Express - 2nd April 1842

Mr.John Hawtrey (a relative of the Rev. Dr. Hawtrey, the headmaster) has just been appointed one of the assistant masters in the lower school at Eton College, to fill up the vacancy occasioned by the retirement of Mr.Williams, in consequence of ill-health.

Stanley Baldwin (future Prime Minister) at Hawtrey's Aldin School

When Stanley (Balwin) was ten, Alfred (his father) arranged for him to enter the recently founded Hawtrey's (Aldin School) in Slough, Buckinghamshire. His mother reportedly said to him 'You can't always be top but always be top if you can; stick to work and to cricket'. His father wrote: 'You were a very good, brave boy this afternoon and I was very pleased with your manly way. If you will be as good in your work and as brave in your play, you will indeed do well'.

Alfred went on to become chairman of the Great Western Railway, chairman the Metropolitan Bank and chairman the Aldridge Colliery Company. Alfred also became MP for West Worcestershire and his hope was that Stanley would join him in the House of Commons.

In 1905 Stanley stood as Tory candidate for Kidderminster but was defeated. A tragic irony now intervened to make sure that Britain should have one of her most successful premiers. Alfred suddenly died on 13 February 1908. He had gone to London with Louisa to attend the half yearly meeting of the Great Western Railway Company at Paddington. Louisa wrote" In the mercy of God he was saved pain, illness, apprehension of death and the sorrow of parting". Stanley brought Alfred's body back to Wilden where it lay, surrounded by his workmen, in the Church that Alfred had built. On the night before the funeral Stanley and his cousins kept vigil by the coffin. Stanley took on the mantle of his father not only in the Company but also in Parliament. Alfred's old constituents asked Stanley to take his place in the by-election. Out of respect to Alfred the Liberals refrained from putting up a candidate against him. Stanley left for London far from certain that he would enjoy having to live there for half of the year. 'I am sure', he said, 'that Hell is full of electric trams tearing about and getting nowhere.'

Stanley Baldwin became Prime Minister in 1923 and was created "Earl Baldwin of Bewdley" in 1937.

Another reference to Rev. John William Hawtry's School

But my grandmother was made of hardier stuff; she faced life and, in course of time, buried the past by marrying a Mr. Aylward, a musician of distinction who had been a Queen's Scholar at the early age of fourteen and was now master and organist at Hawtrey's Preparatory School for Eton, at Slough. see link at Granta - My Father and Myself

Charles Hawtrey at Ascot

Victoria’s eldest son, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, enjoyed racing very much and set the pattern for Royal Ascot week which continues today. In the days before actors were allowed in the Royal Enclosure, King Edward VII asked a young Charles Hawtrey, if he would be seeing him at Royal Ascot. Hawtrey, an actor, explained that the rules prevented it, whereupon the King took it upon himself to personally send Hawtrey the necessary badge. When Ascot came, Hawtrey entered the Royal Enclosure to the great surprise of Lord Churchill, His Majesty’s Representative at Ascot, who said: “I don’t remember sending you a badge.” Hawtrey explained that this was not surprising as he hadn’t – “King Edward did!”

Noel Coward

Coward’s first professional engagement, and that which launched his long career, was on 27 January 1911 in a children’s play, The Goldfish. After this appearance, he was sought after for children’s roles by other professional theatres. He was featured in several productions with Sir Charles Hawtrey, a light comedian, whom Coward idolised and to whom he virtually apprenticed himself until he was twenty. It was from Hawtrey that Coward learned comic acting techniques and play-writing.

The future Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother goes to see Charles Hawtrey
(the same day war as was declared 4th August 1914)

As a 14th birthday treat, Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon was taken by her parents to a West End show, to see Sir Charles Hawtrey at the London Coliseum (on 4th August 1914). On the same day her future father-in-law, King George V, summoned the Privy Council and declared war on Germany.
(see full article at The Times - Queen Mother : Life and Times)

1914 Saturday Aug 4: Lady Elizabeth celebrates her 14th birthday in a box at the Coliseum Theatre, London, watching a Charles Hawtrey show. War declared with Germany that same day. Departure of Fraulein Kuebler (her governess - presumably of german origin) . . . Family moves to Glamis which is converted into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers.
See full Telegraph article

The above event is commomarated in the Poem, by the Poet Laureate, celebrating her 100th birthday in 2000 (see below).

Part of a poem, Picture This, by Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate to celebrate the 100th birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

see full Poems on BBC News, also at BBC Today

1914
The shutter opens and the world expands:
It's Hawtrey at the Colley for your birthday
but he can't be heard, or not heard
as he wants - outside, along St Martin's Lane,
a people-torrent runs and will not wait
to get the enemy. The show goes on.
And then goes on elsewhere, in wards
where nursing changes strangers into brothers
while your real brothers pack their bags
and leave as strangers, or else go for good.

Ancestors of Charles Hawtrey

Hawtrey family pages

The Hawtrey Family - long list

LIST OF OFFICERS in the North York Militia
and the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, from 1758 to 1907
Hawtrey, Chas H (Aldin House, Slough) Lietenant 1876; later, Antrim Rifles

George Proctor Hawtrey - brother of Charles Hawtrey

see papers at University of North Carolina

HAWTREY, EDWARD CRAVEN (1789-1862) - great uncle

English educationalist, was born at Burnham on the 7th of May 1789, the son of the vicar of the parish. He was educated at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge, and in 1814 was appointed assistant. master at Eton uder Dr Keate. In 1834 he became headmaster of the college, and his administration was a vigorous one. New buildings were erected, including the school library and the sanatorium, the college chapel was restored, the Old Christopher Inn was closed, and the custom of Montem, the collection by street begging of funds for the university expenses of the captain of the school, was suppressed. He is supposed to have suggested the prince consorts modern language prizes, while the prize for English essay he founded himself. In 1852 he became provost of Eton, and in 1854 vicar of Mapledurham. He died on the 27th of January 1862. and was buried in the Eton College chapel. On account of his command of languages ancient and modern, he was known in London as the English Mezzofanti, and he was a book collector of the finest taste. Among his own books are some excellent translations from the English into Italian, German and Greek. He had a considerable reputation as a writer of English hexameters and as a judge of Homeric translation. -

Book - The Hawtreys of Rugby - family connections

5. Hantsley, F : THE HISTORY OF THE HAWTREY FAMILY 1903. Two 500pp volumes. Gilt decorated cloth. . (More details) Offered by The Old Book Company - United Kingdom

Hawtrey books

Charles Henry Hawtery - tree

Anthony Hawtrey (son of Charles Hawytrey)

Anthony Hawtrey (1909-1954), also an actor,
was the son of Sir Chales Hawtrey,
and also appeared in many West-end theatre productions
and films (see Internet Moveie Database link for film details).