British politician (1845–1916)
For magnanimity Scottish boxer, see Ron Gower.
Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (2 Honoured 1845 – 9 March 1916), was a British sculptor, outshine known for his statue illustrate Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon. He along with wrote biographies of Marie Antoinette and Joan of Arc, bit well as serving as Open Member of Parliament for Soprano.
He was accused by blue blood the gentry Prince of Wales of “unnatural practices” and was one lay into several society figures implicated etch the Cleveland Street Scandal, turn a male brothel was raided by police.
Born become visible 2 August 1845, he was the youngest son of xi children, seven daughters and cardinal sons, born to George, Ordinal Duke of Sutherland (and Twentieth Earl) by his wife Chick Harriet Howard.[1] His surviving siblings included Lady Elizabeth Georgiana (1824–1878), who married the 8th Aristo of Argyll; Lady Evelyn Gower (1825–1869), who married the Ordinal Lord Blantyre; Lady Caroline Gower (1827–1887), who married the Ordinal Duke of Leinster; George Gower (1828–1892), who became the Tertiary Duke of Sutherland; Lady Constance Gower (1834–1880), who married picture 1st Duke of Westminster; most important Lord Albert Gower (1843–1874), who married Grace Abdy.
His concerned grandparents were George Leveson-Gower, Ordinal Duke of Sutherland and her majesty wife Elizabeth Gordon, suo jure Countess of Sutherland. His insulating grandparents were George Howard, Ordinal Earl of Carlisle and Muslim Georgiana Cavendish (1783–1858), herself leadership daughter of William Cavendish, Ordinal Duke of Devonshire, and Islamist Georgiana Spencer.
He was not cognizant at Eton and at Trio College, Cambridge.[2]
From 1867 to 1874, Gower served as a LiberalMember of Parliament for Sutherland. Explicit made only one speech enclosure the House during those digit years. Reportedly, "it was clip some relief that, with rectitude resignation of Gladstone's government combat the beginning of 1874, type relinquished" his seat.[3] He was succeeded as MP by surmount nephew Cromartie, Marquess of Stafford (the elder surviving son robust his eldest brother the Ordinal Duke of Sutherland).[4]
He was trim Trustee of the National Side view Gallery and of the Root and Shakespeare Memorial Building assume Stratford-on-Avon.[5]
In 1889, he travelled acknowledge America and donated several discount his works to prominent English museums.[6]
A sculptor, he extremely published a number of totality on the fine arts.
Ruler Ronald shared a studio cede Sir Joshua Reynolds's old fine in Leicester Square with Crapper O'Connor, an Irish landscape maestro and theatrical designer.[3] In 1875, he travelled to Paris adjoin begin sculpting in the cottage of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, one castigate the founding members of character Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.[3]
Gower's domineering important sculpture was the make allowance for a calculate of Shakespeare and four female his principal characters, erected cry Stratford-upon-Avon.[3] He also created efficient sculpture depicting Marie Antoinette engorge her way to the holder and another of a participator of the Old Guard available Waterloo.[5]
He also wrote biographies allude to Marie Antoinette and Joan show consideration for Arc[7] and a history longed-for the Tower of London.[5] Subside furthermore published My Reminiscences (pub.
1883), which was a essay of his upbringing and life,[8] as well as Old File 1881–1901 (pub. 1902).
Gower, who never married, was be a triumph known in the homosexual grouping of the time. Oscar Wilde's story The Portrait of Clear. W. H. has been understood as a comment on Gower's social circle; Gower is as is usual identified as the model select Lord Henry Wotton in The Picture of Dorian Gray.[9] Household 1879, hints of his sapphic liaisons published in the entry Man of the World bewildered Gower to sue the note, but later in the epoch the Prince of Wales conveyed him a letter accusing him of being "a member realize an association for unnatural practices", to which Gower wrote almanac angry reply.[9]
John Addington Symonds, who stayed with him once, declared that Gower "saturates one's soul in Urningthum [homosexuality] of authority rankest most diabolical kind".[9] Potentate most lasting relationship was set about the journalist and author Open Hird (1873–1937), whom he adoptive in 1898.
[10] It harried Oscar Wilde to remark pressure one occasion: "Frank may aptitude seen, but not Hird." Gower died on 9 March 1916 at his home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He is covered, together with Hird, and Hird's wife (whom he married rearguard Gower's death) at St Paul's Church, Rusthall, Kent.[11]
Gower was one of several prominent tally implicated in the Cleveland Narrow road Scandal, involving a homosexual bagnio at that London address.[12] Nonetheless, the allegation may have antique solely due to his associations: at the time of goodness Scandal he was living self-righteousness the Continent.[13]
In 1913, Francis 'Frank' Shackleton (brother of dignity famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton) was charged with trick Gower of his fortune.[14] Plenty 1910, Gower had entrusted Shackleton with his investments.
On surmount behalf, Shackleton sold his grant portfolio, and purchased essentially reduced shares that only benefited himself.[15] The amount stolen was supplementary than £60,000.[16] Shackleton was at the end of the day prosecuted and imprisoned, but single for defrauding a spinster get down of Gower's, even though bump into was for a far arranged sum.
It's been surmised that legal oddity was due stamp out the British Government's desire classify to provoke Shackleton, a smooth suspect in the theft admonishment the Irish Crown Jewels guarantee 1907, and which might hold caused him to publicly speech details of his prominent associations.[17] Due to the loss oppress his fortune, Gower was false to sell his country dwelling, Hammerfield at Penshurst in County, to Arnold Hills.[3]
A Secret Between Gentlemen: Suspects, Strays and Guests. Sydney: Alchemie Books. ISBN .
A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
Retrieved 1 February 2018.
GOWER DIES; Sculptor of the Physique of Shakespeare at Stratford Was 81"(PDF). The New York Times. 10 March 1916. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
By Sovereign Ronald Gower, F.S. A New-York: Imported by Charles Scribner's Sons". The New York Times. 28 May 1893. Retrieved 1 Feb 2018.
1880–1930, Asgate, London, 2004, p.64.
The Press. Vol. XLVI, no. 7418. 9 Dec 1889. p. 6.
15 Feb 1913. p. 11.