Sir Rudolph de Trafford Baronet 5th

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_de_Trafford

Rudolph was the second son of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 3rd Baronet and Violet Alice Maud Franklin. He attended Downside (Sep 1907 to Jul 1911), and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was friends with Marshall Field III. 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.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] In 1952, June remarried to Thomas Touchet-Jesson and became Lady Audley. They divorced in 1957 and June died in 1977.[4]

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.[5] His requiem was celebrated at St Mary's Church, Cadogan Street.[6] Kay de Trafford died on 15 September 1993.

References[edit] Jump up ^ "Marriages", The Times, 2 February 1924 Jump up ^ Wake, Jehanne (1997), Kleinwort, Benson: the History of Two Families in Banking, Oxford University Press, p. 315, ISBN 0-19-828299-0 Jump up ^ "Decree Nisi for Mrs. De Trafford", The Times, 12 April 1938 Jump up ^ http://thepeerage.com/p1145.htm#i11448 Jump up ^ http://www.thepeerage.com/p4791.htm#i47901 Jump up ^ "Deaths", The Times, 14 October 1983 Baronetage of Great Britain Preceded by Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 4th Baronet de Trafford baronets 1971–1983 Succeeded by Sir Dermot de Trafford Categories: 1894 births1983 deathsAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeBaronets in the Baronetage of the United KingdomBritish Army personnel of World War IOfficers of the Order of the British EmpirePeople educated at Stubbington House School