Henry Lauder Knt (1870 - 1950)

Born 4 Aug 1870 in Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Ann Limerick (Vallance) Lauder — married 19 Jun 1891 in St Johns Free Church, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Died 26 Feb 1950 at age 79 in Lauder Hall, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gregory Lauder-Frost [send private message]

Biography

Harry Lauder Knt is Notable.

Harry Lauder Knt was born in Scotland.

Sir Henry "Harry" Lauder (4 August 1870 – 26 February 1950) was an international Scottish entertainer, described by Sir Winston Churchill as "Scotland's greatest ever ambassador!"[1][2][3] Wallace states that he was the first British entertainer to sell a million recordings. This is supported in Sir Harry's own words in Dec 1928.^[1] In 1927 Sir Harry starred in the first of his three full-length motion pictures, Huntingtower (silent), also starring Pat Ahearne, directed by George Pearson, and after the novel by John Buchan. It was released by Paramount Pictures.^[2]

The famous 1915 portrait of Sir Harry Lauder by Cowan Dobson, R.B.A., passed to his great-nephew, Gregory Lauder-Frost.

See the fuller biography below Sir Harry's Australian connexions.

Australian connexions

Sir Harry Lauder's most endearing connexions were with Australia, which he visited regularly. On Saturday night 18th April 1914 fifteen thousand people gathered in front of Melbourne's Princess Theatre to greet Harry Lauder where he made his first appearance in Australia. So great was the crush that the assistance of the police was required before the automobiles could force their way to the entrance. Every available seat was taken and even standing room filled to capacity. It was said that "never in the history of Melbourne has such a reception been accorded to a public entertainer".^[3]

Both Harry, his wife and son John, and Harry's brother Matt & his wife, were all in Australia when The Great War broke out.^[4][5] Their brother John had already emigrated, about 1907, to Kurri Kurri (and, later, Newcastle), New South Wales^[6][7] and Matt's eldest son John would also emigrate there in 1920. Sir Harry wrote that "every time I return to Australia I am filled with genuine enthusiasm.....it is one of the very greatest countries in the world."^[8] In 1936 he added that "Australia's the land for me" and that he did not like any place in the word as much as Australia, except Scotland.^[9] That year he even expressed the intention of retiring to Newcastle N.S.W., to live with his brother, Jock^[10] (John).

Sir Harry Lauder was next in Australia (with his wife and her mother) in 1919 (arriving at Sydney on 1st March on board the liner S.S. Ventura, from San Francisco) and he was in situ giving a luncheon party at the famous Hotel Australia when he was formally notified that he was to be knighted upon his return to Britain.^[11][12][13] He left Sydney on board the liner SS Sonoma on 8th October 1919. His third visit was in March 1923 when his brother John was on hand in Sydney, with their nephew John (Matt's son), to welcome Sir Harry, his wife, and her brother Tom Vallance, after a four-year absence from Australia.^[14]He performed to packed houses at Sydney's Palace Theatre^[15] and then visited and stayed with his brother John, in Stockton, Newcastle. He was back there again in 1925^[16], when he gave several performances at Newcastle's Victoria Theatre commencing 8th August, four days after his birthday^[17], and again in July 1929^[18] arriving for a brief visit to Newcastle on the 25th in order to attend the Musicians Ball at the Palais Royal, to great applause.^[19] Sir Harry departed Sydney for the USA on board the liner SS Ventura on Saturday 27th July 1929,^[20] a ship he was familiar with. In 1934-5 Sir Harry's brother John spent 10 months with him at the family seat, Lauder Hall, in Scotland.^[21]

Sir Harry arrived again in Australia on board the luxury liner SS Narkunda on 16th December, 1936^[22][23] and was met at Newcastle N.S.W., railway station on 23rd of that month by his brother John, - and Mrs Matt Lauder, their nephew's wife, with her daughters Cecily & Joyce, whom "he greeted affectionately"^[24], they having previously travelled from California for this reunion on board the Union Steamship Co's liner S.S.Maunganui. On Christmas Day, Sir Harry agreed to a request to visit the wards of Newcastle Hospital to spread "words of Christmas cheer to the patients"!^[25] Sir Harry spent New Year's Eve on 31st December 1936 with his relatives.^[26] On New Year's Day Sir Harry attended the 'Caledonian Gathering of the Clans' at Sydney Showground, where he was piped into the ground to much applause.^[27] On 4th January Sir Harry Lauder went to see his nephew Matt, described as "the professional", at Merewether Golf Club for a "few putts",^[28][29] spending the rest of the day with Matt, his wife, and Matt's first cousin Margaret ('Greta'), Sir Harry's secretary.^[30] On 22nd January 1937 the press found him playing cricket with local boys at Stockton Park, near his brother John's home.^[31] During this trip, on Burns Night, Sir Harry broadcast nationwide on the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) on Monday 25th January 1937 at 8.30 p.m. for an hour,^[32] with some of his old favourites and routines. The officials at the ABC described the broadcast as a "tremendous success" with the broadcaster's switchboard being inundated with calls of congratulations to both the artist and the ABC.^[33] After a month's holiday in Newcastle, "the happiest holiday I have had for a long time"^[34], he left Sydney on board the Union Steamship Company's liner SS Awatea on Saturday 27th February for a holiday in New Zealand^[35] where he visited his late wife's brother, William Vallance, who farmed there, en-route to the U.S.A.

South Africa

Sir Harry Lauder's 1925 reception in South Africa has never been equalled in that country. En-route to Australia, he and his wife arrived in Cape Town at Easter. Over twenty thousand people had lined the streets for hours beforehand and it was said that every policeman in the city plus mounted police were required to keep order. All traffic came to a standstill. He played for two weeks at the Opera House to packed audiences every night, figures "which staggered the management". He moved on to Johannesburg where his reception was equally amazing, described by a reporter who said "never, as long as I live, shall I forget it!"^[36]

Royal Family

Sir Harry's niece, 'Greta', relates: "the Queen is charming and has a great sense of humour. She and my uncle (Sir Harry Lauder) get on very well. They exchange stories and hers were just as good as his. My uncle has known all the members of the Royal Family, and has given Command Performances before King Edward VII, King George V, and King Edward VIII."^[37]

Other

Sir Harry Lauder, interviewed in December 1936, stated his dislike for jazz, saying it was "awful rubbish".^[38]

During an interview, Sir Harry's niece, 'Greta', surprised those present by saying that her uncle refuses to eat porridge saying he had had so much of it before he was 14 that he couldn't bear to eat any more of it! Adding, that he is fond of his home, likes a comfortable simple life, and likes domesticated women.^[39]

Wikipedia

The following edited notes are taken from Wikipedia.^[40]

Henry Lauder was born at Portobello, Edinburgh, in the home of his maternal grandfather, Henry McLennan. His father was John Currie Lauder^[41], descended from the Lauders of the Bass,[4]^[42] and his mother was Isabella Urquhart MacLeod McLennan, born in Arbroath, co.Forfar, to a family from the Black Isle in Rossshire.[5]

Harry's father John Lauder was a Master Potter who specialised in design at the famous Portobello Pottery. In 1882 John moved to Newbold, Derbyshire , to take up a new position designing china. However John died of pneumonia a short while afterwards. He was at least insured. His second son Matthew, aged only 10, was the informant who signed the death certificate. Isabella and her five sons and two daughters moved back to Scotland to live in her brother Alexander's home in Arbroath. Though it was customary for children to begin working at the age of 12, Harry's mother was determined to continue Harry's education. He worked part-time in the evenings at the local flax mill until he was 16, so he could attend the mill's school during the day. Alexander subsequently moved with his wife to Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and his sister Isabella soon followed. Here Harry and his brothers went to work in the collieries to raise money for themselves and their family. On 19 June 1891, at age 21, Harry married Ann, daughter of James Vallance, a colliery manager at Hamilton. Harry's brother Matthew stood as his best man,[6] and a year later, Harry served as Matthew's best man when he wedded Ann's sister, Catherine.[7]

Lauder is said to have sung as he worked in the coal mines to help relieve the arduous nature of the work, and his fellow workers encouraged him to sing in local community halls. While singing in nearby Larkhall, he received 5 shillings—the first time he was paid for singing. After more evenings singing in halls around Hamilton, he went to a weekly "go-as-you please" night held by Mrs. Christina Baylis at her Scotia Music Hall and Metropole Theatre in Glasgow. She advised him to gain experience by touring music halls around the country with a concert party, which he did. With this he quit the collieries and turned to singing professionally. Lauder sang comedic and songs of Scotland and Ireland.[8]

In 1905 his success in leading the Howard & Wyndham pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, for which he wrote I Love a Lassie, made him a national British star, and he obtained contracts with Sir Edward Moss and others. In 1911, he toured the United States where he commanded $1,000 a night. In 1912, he was top of the bill at Britain's first ever Royal Command Variety performance, in front of King George V. He became Britain's best-known entertainer. He toured the world extensively during his forty-year career, including 22 trips to the United States—for which he had his own railroad train, the Harry Lauder Special—and made several trips to Australia, where his brother John had emigrated.

He was, at one time, the highest-paid performer in the world, making the equivalent of £12,700 a night plus expenses,[9] and was the first British artiste to sell a million records. Lauder's music appealed to all, including workers, merchants, royalty, and presidents.

His understanding of life, its pathos and joys, endeared him to all. Beniamino Gigli and others commended his singing voice and clarity. Lauder usually performed in full 'Highland' regalia—Kilt, Sporran, Tam o' Shanter, and twisted walking stick—singing Scottish-themed songs (Roamin' in the Gloamin' etc.). On the negative side, this 'Romantic' image of the ever-bekilted 'music-hall' Scotsman who, some said, bore little, if any, resemblance to the real thing, helped foster an image of Scotland that was not always flattering and even lent itself to some ridicule. Likewise, his penchant for telling stories and jokes involving the alleged parsimony of the Scots established an enduring but false image of his fellow countrymen. Some of the most generous philanthropists of the age, such as Andrew Carnegie and, before him, David Dale, were Scots.

When World War I broke out, Lauder was in Melbourne on his first Australian tour. During the war, he led successful fundraising efforts for war charities, organised a tour of music halls in 1915 for recruitment purposes, and brought his piano to the front lines where he entertained troops in France. Through his efforts in organising concerts and fundraising appeals he raised £1,000,000 to help servicemen return to health and civilian life, for which he was knighted in 1919.

He suffered personal tragedy during the war, when his only son, John (1891–1916), a captain in the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed in action on 28 December 1916 at Poiziers.[10] Harry wrote the song Keep Right on to the End of the Road in the wake of John's death. He had a monument for his son built in the little Lauder cemetery in Glenbranter (John Lauder was buried in France). Winston Churchill stated that Lauder, "...by his inspiring songs and valiant life, rendered measureless service to the Scottish race and to the British Empire."[11]

Sir Harry wrote most of his own songs, favourites of which were Roamin' in the Gloamin', I Love a Lassie, A Wee Deoch-an-Doris, and Keep Right on to the End of the Road, which is used by Birmingham City Football Club as their club anthem. He starred in three British feature films: Huntingtower (1927), Auld Lang Syne (1929) and The End of the Road (1936). He also appeared in a test film for the Photokinema sound-on-disc process in 1921. This film was part of the UCLA Film and Television Archive collection, however, the disc is missing. In 1914, Lauder appeared in 14 Selig Polyscope experimental short sound films.[12] In 1907, he appeared in a short film singing I Love a Lassie for Gaumont British.[13] The British Film Institute has several reels of what appears to be an unreleased [silent] film All for the Sake of Mary (c.1920) co-starring Effie Vallance and Harry Vallance.[14]

He wrote a number of books which ran into several editions, including Harry Lauder at Home and on Tour (1912), A Minstrel in France (1918), Between You and Me (1919), Roamin’ in the Gloamin’ (1928 autobiography), My Best Scotch Stories (1929), Wee Drappies (1931) and Ticklin’ Talks (circa 1932).

Lauder is credited with giving the then 21 year-old portrait artist Cowan Dobson his opening into society by commissioning him, in 1915, to paint his portrait. This was considered to be so outstanding another commission came the following year to paint his son Captain John Lauder, and again another commission in 1921 to paint Sir Harry's wife,[15] the latter portrait being after the style of John Singer Sargent. These three portraits remain in the family's possession. The same year Scottish artist James McBey painted another portrait of Sir Harry, today in the Glasgow Museums.[16] In the tradition of the famous British magazine Vanity Fair there appeared numerous caricatures of Sir Harry Lauder. Of the more notable is one by Al Frueh (1880-1968) in 1911 and published in 1913 in the New York World magazine,[17] another by Henry Mayo Bateman, now in London's National Gallery[18], and one by Alick P.F.Ritchie, for Players, in 1926, today in the London National Portrait Gallery ^[43].

Ann, Lady Lauder, died on 31 July 1927 and was buried next to her parents and her son's memorial at Glenbranter, Argyll, in the private graveyard on Sir Harry's 14,000 acre estate.^[44] His niece, Margaret Lauder, MBE (1900–1966), moved in with him at his home, Laudervale (outside Dunoon), to care for him and be his housekeeper and secretary. Sir Harry's final retirement was announced in 1935. However, he again entertained troops throughout Britain during World War II, despite his age, and made wireless broadcasts with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He also appeared immediately after the war to thank the crews of American food relief ships docking at Glasgow.

Death: Reuters New Agency reported that Sir Harry Lauder had suffered a cerebral thrombosis in August 1949 and he became gravely ill.^[45] He had leased Glenbranter to the Forestry Commission and spent his closing years at Lauder Hall, his family seat at Strathaven, where he died on 26 February 1950, aged 79. His funeral was widely reported, notably by Pathé newsreels. One of the chief mourners was Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, who led the funeral procession and read the lesson. Wreaths were received from H.M.The King & Queen and notably Mr & Mrs Winston Churchill.^[46] Sir Harry was interred with his mother and his brother George at Bent Cemetery, Hamilton.[19]

Over the years Sir Harry had settled upon his family significant gifts of money and property, and in 1932 he had placed the family seat of Lauder Hall and its park in the name of his niece and secretary, Margaret ('Greta') Lauder to avoid crippling death duties should he die.^[47] This proved to be a wise move as although he left moveable estate of £358,971, the death duties on this alone amounted to £207,581. After further personal bequests to family totalling £27,000 the residue went to Miss Lauder.^[48]

Posthumous: Websites carry much of his material and the Harry Lauder Collection, amassed by entertainer Jimmy Logan, was bought for the nation and donated to the University of Glasgow.[20] When the A199 Portobello bypass opened, it was named the Sir Harry Lauder Road.[21]

On 28 July 1987, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, The Rt. Hon. John McKay, CBE, hosted a luncheon at the Edinburgh City Chambers, to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the granting of the Freedom of the City to Sir Harry Lauder, attended by family representative Gregory Lauder-Frost, Sir Harry's great-nephew, who, on 4 August 2001, formally opened the new Sir Harry Lauder Memorial Garden at Portobello Town Hall,[22] and was the principal commentator throughout the Saltire/BBC2 TV (Scotland) documentary entitled Something About Harry screened on 30 November 2005. On 29 September 2007, Lauder-Frost as guest-of-honour rededicated for another century the Burslem Golf Course & Club at Stoke-on-Trent, which had been formally opened on the same day in 1907 by Harry Lauder.[23]

In the 1990s, samples of recordings of Lauder were used on two tracks recorded by the Scottish folk/dance music artist Martyn Bennett. An ornamental cultivar of Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) has become known as Harry Lauder's Walking Stick or Corkscrew Hazel. It was noticed growing as part of a hedge in the 1800s and is now propagated by grafting. It gains this name from the fact Lauder regularly appeared on stage with a crooked walking stick.

The song "Dearie" includes a reference to Harry Lauder.

References:

• 2. "Sir Harry Lauder", Time Magazine, 10 March 1930. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
• 3. Lauder-Frost, Gregory. Biographical Notes on Sir Harry Lauder. Electric Scotland. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
• 4. Lauder, Sir Harry, Roamin' in the Gloamin, Hutchinson & Co., London, 1927, p.26.
• 5. '"The Ancestry of Sir Harry Lauder" in The Scottish Genealogist, vol.liii, no.2, Edinburgh, June 2006 pps.74-87. ISSN 0330-337X
• 6. Lauder, 1927, p.68.
• 7. "The Ancestry of Sir Harry Lauder", 2006, p.82
• 8. Sir Harry Lauder: 1870-1950. Special Collections. University of Glasgow.
• 9. "Harry Lauder, coming to a ringtone near you" in The Sunday Times, London. 24 July 2005.
• 10. CWGC entry
• 11. Winston S. Churchill, The Second World War - Volume III, p.530
• 14. British Film Institute Database entry
• 15. Morrison, McChlery & Co.,Glasgow, Catalogue of the Furnishings of Lauder Hall, Strathaven, May 1966, p.13.
• 16. BBC - Your Paintings - Sir Harry Lauder (1870–1950)
• 17. Caricature and Cartoon in Twentieth-Century America: Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon (Prints and Photographs Reading Room, Library of Congress)
• 18. Sir Harry Lauder, 1870 - 1950, Comedian − Henry Mayo Bateman − B − Artists A-Z − Online Collection − Collection − National Galleries of Scotland
• 19. * 'Harry Lauder in the Limelight by William Wallace, Lewes, Sussex, 1988, (ISBN 0-86332-312-X), which has a foreword and extensive notes by Sir Harry's great-nephew, Gregory Lauder-Frost.
• 20. http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/STELLA/STARN/crit/WAGGLE/lauder.htm 0
• 21. "List of Public Roads Q - Z". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
• 22. The Portobello Reporter, Autumn 2001 edition
• 23. The Sentinel (Staffordshire) (newspaper), Stoke-on-Trent, 4 October 2007, p. 47 (includes photo).

Further reading:

• Great Scot! - The life story of Sir Harry Lauder, legendary laird of the music hall. by Gordon Irving, London, 1968 (ISBN 0-09089-0701).
• The Sunday Times (Scottish edition), 24 July 2005, article: "Harry Lauder, coming to a ringtone near you", by David Stenhouse.
• A Minstrel in France, London, 1918, by Harry Lauder (including the death of his son).
• The Theatre Royal: Entertaining A Nation by Graeme Smith, Glasgow, 2008

Sources

1. ↑ Daily Examiner, Grafton, New South Wales, 1st December 1928, p.8.
2. ↑ Daily Telegraph, Sydney, N.S.W., Sun 9 Oct 1927, p.34.
3. ↑ Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser (N.S.W.), Monday 20th April 1914, p.3.
4. ↑ Lauder, Sir Harry, Roamin' in the Gloamin' (autobiography), London, 1928, p.177-8.
5. ↑ The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, 4th May 1914, p.8.
6. ↑ Lauder, 1928, p.29.
7. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 18th December 1936, p.6.
8. ↑ Lauder, 1928, p.223.
9. ↑ Armidale Express & New England General Advertiser, N.S.W., Friday 13 Nov 1936, p.9.
10. ↑ Daily Telegraph, Sydney, Monday 28 Feb 1938, p.1.
11. ↑ Lauder, 1928, p.221.
12. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 1st May 1919, p.5.
13. ↑ Young Witness' Sydney, New South Wales, Fri 2 May 1919, p.2.
14. ↑ Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 4th March, 1923, p.10.
15. ↑ Daily Telegraph, Sydney, Sat 7 April 1923, p.8.
16. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 4th, and 13th August 1925, p.6.
17. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 5th August 1925, p.8.
18. ↑ https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-157694530/view
19. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 23rd July 1929, p.8.
20. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 29th July 1929, p.4.
21. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 5th March, 1935, p.6.
22. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 16th December 1936, p.6.
23. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 18th December 1936, p.6.
24. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 24 Dec 1936, pps: 5 & 7, with photos.
25. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 26th December 1936, p.6.
26. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 1st January 1937.
27. ↑ The Newcastle Sun, 1st January 1937, p.5.
28. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 5th January 1937, pps:3 & 4.
29. ↑ Daily Examiner, Grafton, Sat 9 Jan 1937, p.9.
30. ↑ The Newcastle Sun 4th January 1937, p.6, with photo of both Sir Harry and Matt.
31. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 23rd January 1937, p.9 (photos).
32. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 21st January 1937, p.8.
33. ↑ Labor Daily, Sydney, Tues. 26 Jan 1837, p.4.
34. ↑ Newcastle Sun, N.S.W., Sat 23 Jan 1937, p.4.
35. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 1st March 1937, p.6, and 26th April 1937, p.6.
36. ↑ Warwick Daily News, Queensland, 3rd August 1925, p.3.
37. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), Wednesday 23 Dec 1935, p.5.
38. ↑ Daily Examiner, Grafton, N.S.W., Monday 21 Dec 1936, p.4.
39. ↑ SMH, 23 Dec, 1936, p.5.
40. ↑ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Lauder
41. ↑ Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes for 1943 describes Sir Harry Lauder as "elder son of John Lauder of Edinburgh"
42. ↑ The Sunday Star, Washington DC, 6 Dec 1914, part 2, 'Theatres & Players'.
43. ↑ London National Portrait Gallery D2675
44. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald 1st May 1919, p.5.
45. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 25 August 1949, Front page.
46. ↑ The Newcastle Sun, 3rd March 1950, p.5.
47. ↑ Wallace, 1988, pps: 95 & 105.
48. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald, 22nd April 1950, p.3.

See also:

• Henry is mentioned in the book 'BOOSEY & HAWKES: THE PUBLISHING STORY' written by Helen Wallace.'Boosey & Hawkes, the Publishing Story' by Helen Wallace-1