Famous People
Lillie Langtry
Lillie was born in 1853 in Jersey. She was the only daughter of the Rector of St Saviour and the Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend William Corbet Le Breton. She was baptised Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, but was always known amongst her friends as Lillie.
Lillie met John Millais through London’s Society and he asked if she would sit for him, as he wanted to be the first painter to portray his countrywoman. Millais’ “A Jersey Lillie” immediately enhanced the reputation of her beauty, especially when it was hung in The Royal Academy and nominated in 1879 as picture of the year.
Lillie was the mistress of the Prince of Wales for several years as well as being a friend right up until his death in 1910.
After Lillie’s affair with Prince Edward was over, she met another Royal Prince - Prince Louis of Battenberg, to whom she had an illegitimate daughter. In 1899 Lillie married once again, this time to Hugo de Bathe, but they were an ill matched couple and spent most of their time apart.
Lillie Langtry eventually becoming a member of the famous Bancroft Theatrical Company. She later toured in both America and South Africa. In fact she became known as one of the hardest working actresses of her time. She also ventured into the fields of horse racing and had stables at Newmarket where she bred and raced horses under the name of “Mr Jersey”. She had her largest win ever - £120,00 - with her famous horse Merman which won the Caesarwitch in 1892.
In 1900 Lillie returned to Jersey to open the new Opera House in St Helier, taking the female lead in “The Degenerates” and delighting the islanders by speaking to them in Jersey Norman-French at the end of the play. On her retirement from both acting and racehorse owner, Lillie went to live in Monaco. There, in 1929, at the age of 75 years, she died.
Victor Hugo
The 19th century French writer and the author of Les Miserables, Victor Hugo, lived for some time in both Jersey and Guernsey, although he had quite a different reputation in each island.
A staunch Republican, Hugo was forced to take refuge in Belgium before seeking asylum in Jersey in order to escape Louis Napoleon. His arrival in St Helier on 5th August 1852 caused a great stir, as the many political refugees who were in the Island at that time all proceeded to the quay to greet him. Never at a loss for words, Hugo assured them that he had come to share the same sky, the same exile and that they were all to love one another.
He then went in triumph to La Pomme D’Or Hotel where he stayed until he was lucky enough to find a house by the sea, 3 Marina Terrace, Grève d’Azette, St Clement. He stayed here with his wife, children and sons-in-law for three years. His mistress, Juliette Drouet, was found lodgings just along the coast at Havre des Pas. The Hugo family did not mix much with the local people but instead had family picnics at St Brelade and enjoyed the sea views and games on the beach.
This fairly uneventful life enabled Hugo to return to his poetry and whilst in Jersey he wrote both “Les Châtiments and most of “Les Contemplations”. One Jersey poem written at Grève d’Azette , records how he had been nipped by a crab, but had been generous enough to throw it back into the sea. Although as he pointed out in letters to friends, he could not be forever writing or enjoying the scenery - he needed more stimulating diversions.
The most harmless of these and the one in most keeping with his temperament, was the art of photography. His son Charles managed to acquire all the necessary equipment from the continent and Hugo was photographed against some of the most Gothic scenery in Jersey. One of his more dubious past times were the diversions of table-turning and playing billiards on Sunday, which was done behind locked shutters so as not to shock the locals! The liveliest action which was to prove his downfall, was Hugo’s continuing support of Republican ideas and he used every opportunity to spread such sentiments. He was also a supporter of the exiles’ Jersey newspaper L’Homme, which had printed a letter sent to Queen Victoria by a Republican fanatic, accusing her of unimaginable goings on in Paris during her return visit to Napoleon III. For this act of treason, the editor, owner and seller were all expelled from Jersey.
Hugo thought that this expulsion, without a trial, was outrageous and he wrote a Declaration saying so, which he posted up in the streets of St Helier. Hugo’s name topped the list of signatories and the Declaration concluded with the bravado “Expel us too”. The next morning, the Connétable of St Clement, on the Lieutenant Governor’s orders, did not hesitate to do so. Victor Hugo was forced to set sail for his new asylum on Guernsey on 31 October 1855.
He lived happily here for 15 years and between the years of 1862 and 1869 Hugo finished three novels, Les Miserables and Les Travailleurs de la Mer which were both based on his life in Guernsey, and also L’Homme qui rit. Then in 1870 came the news of the fall of Napoleon III and his Empire so Hugo, his family and his mistress returned as quickly as possible to their beloved France.
Le Rocher des Proscrits where he stood and looked back to France is on the slipway opposite the Hotel de Normandie at Le Dicq in Jersey and is commemorated by a plaque on the wall of the slipway.
Harry Vardon (1870 - 1937)
Born Grouville, Jersey, Vardon is remembered as the leading member of the Great Triumvirate.
Unlike other great golfers of his era, Vardon did not grow up in a golfing environment. As a youngster, he played a game similar to today's pitch and putt where handmade clubs fashioned from oak were used to hit a marble ball (a taw) around a course measuring just 50 yards; not exactly growing up in the shadow of St Andrews.
Vardon's first job was gardener to a gentleman who enjoyed golf. Vardon would sometimes caddy for him and be given the opportunity to use proper equipment to play a few strokes. His brother, Tom, travelled to England to become a professional. So obviously, the seed was planted in Vardon's mind.
Curious as to his abilities, he played a minor tournament in England and won. He then contested a tournament in Scotland and came second. With the confidence of his success, Vardon turned professional. He worked at Ripon, Bury and Ganton before settling at South Hertfordshire GC near London where he stayed for 34 years.
Vardon's rise to the top was progressive rather than instant. In 1896, he beat JH Taylor and later that year won his first Open. Not only was he he first Englishman to win the event, he would go on to record an unbeaten six victories. He also beat Taylor to win the US Open in 1900.
At that time, the real money in golf was in America and Vardon played a series of exhibition matches there. His fame followed him from Britain; he was therefore golf's first international celebrity. He did not invent the overlapping grip which bears his name but certainly popularised it. J Laidley used it before Vardon to win the Amateur Championship.
Vardon's strength was in the power and accuracy of his swing. However a bout of tuberculosis in 1903 permanently affected his health. His illness manifested itself on the course when the club head would shake in an erratic manner whilst putting. Despite this, he did go on to win the Open again and indeed was second in the 1920 US Open.
Besides his great victories, Vardon's story is one of the success that hard work and confidence can bring. Six times winner of the Open, his achievements continue to set the stand by which the golfing greats are measured.
Literary & Musical connections with Jersey
Famous Writers who lived in Jersey
Maistre Wace
(born in Jersey 1100 and died in Rouen in 1174). He wrote in Norman French and was a key figure in the development of English Literature in the years following the Norman Conquest. His work pre-dates Chaucer by around 200 years.
Jack Higgins
Author of ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ and ‘The Fox’ set in Jersey during the Occupation.
Gerald Durrell
Founder of Jersey Zoo and author of worldwide experiences.
Jeremy Reed
He wrote many famous poems based on his Jersey upbringing and his fascination with the sea. Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award 1985 & 1987.
Famous writers/musicians who lived in Jersey
Sir Walter Raleigh. (1552 – 1618)
Governor of Jersey for 3 years.
J S Mill
Political philosopher who invented the doctrine of utilitarianism, and champion of Wordworth’s work. Visited Jersey in1854.
George Eliot
Greatest English fiction novelist who came to Jersey in 1857 with her lover George Lewes and became disowned by her family.
Anthony Trollope
Visited Jersey to develop the delivery of mail – influential novelist whose career was in the Civil Service.
Guy De Maupassant
French short story writer born in Normandy.
Thomas Hardy
Novelist and poet who visited Jersey in 1884 while working on the Major of Casterbridge. He called himself Thomas Le Hardy.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Seminal thinkers who visited Jersey frequently between 1857 and 1885 though making disparaging comments about the island.
Famous Names with Island connections
Sir Jessie Boot (Lord Trent)
Young Jessie Boot learnt a lot from his mother about old country remedies and cure alls from herbs, leaves and boiled roots. He inherited a small back street shop in Nottingham and it was here that he put this knowledge to good use and in doing so created the first 'Boots The Chemist'. Born in 1850 to a farm labourer, Jessie Boots had what it took to succeed in business. Total dedication and the ability to spot a gap in the market and find a way of filling it at a profit! As the chain of his shops grew so did the pressure and at the age of 35 the strain had become too much and he was forced to take a break from work. He made the decision to come to Jersey, where he met, fell and in love and married a Jersey girl called Florrie Rowe. Florrie was 23 and the daughter of a bookseller. She proved to be a fantastic business partner and instigated the selling of stationery, books and artist's materials in Jessie's shops. She also instigated the first Boots Library and acted as mediator between her husband and his sstaff! Their empire grew and in 1924 Mr and Mrs Boot moved to Jersey where they bought Villa Millbrook. they become Lord and Lady Trent in 1928.
When Sir Jessie Boot died in 1931, Lady Florence had the old chapel at Millbrook completely refirbished in his memory. With the help of Rene Lalique of Paris, the unique 'Glass Church' was created and became one of the great show pieces of the island. She also donated to the people a piece of land which runs down to Victoria Avenue from Villa Millbrook. It was 'for the young to play and the old to rest' - it became Coronation Park.
Buffalo Bill
Long before William Cody was thought of, a clairvoyent told his mother he would be famous. William arrived in 1846 and died in poverty in 1917 but he had an amazingly colourful seventy years in between. By the time William was thirty he was Chief of Scouts and Indian fighter for the 5th Cavalry. William had also hunted and killed over four thousand buffalo to supply meat for the army and civilian workers. A writer, intrigued by Williams's exploits, wrote several stories in which he dubbed him 'Buffalo Bill'. This created interest in the 'Wild West'. Soon William Cody had a 'Wild West Rough Riders' show touring America and eventually Europe. This went down well with audiences and in time Buffalo Bill became famous and received accolades and gifts, from among others, Queen Victoria and crowned heads of Europe. Bill Cody hung up his Bowie Knife in 1910 stating that he was going home for a 'well earned rest'. Sadly he was too generous and his money did not stick to him as closely as his Buffalo Bill title. He died penniless at his sister's home in Denver. Annie Oakley said of him "He was the kindest, loyalistm simplest man I ever did meet". The Cody family Association in America has several thousand members all of them being connected with or descendants of Philip Le Cody. The name Cody was Le Cody, originally Le Caudey from Jersey.
Lawrence of Arabia
Thomas Edward Lawrence was born in 1888. Twenty-six years later during the 1914/18 war, he was to become Lawrence of Arabia. His technique of not only disguising himself as an Arab but virtually becoming one of them, earned him the title world-wide. In this role and with the backing of his military training, he led the Arabs against the Turks in several successful campaigns. After leaving the Army he wrote a book, 'The Seven Pillars of Wisdom'. Later he joined the Royal Air Force. He was killed in a motorcycle accident. Young Tom LAwrence lived at, and no doubt played on the sands of Havre des Pas, in Jersey. He was here for a short time when his parents came over to Jersey from France for the birth of his baby brother.
Joan Crawford
Le Sueur is a name well known in the Channel Islands. When Tommy Le Sueur left Jersey for Canada he met his wife, Anna Ball-Johnson very soon after his arrival and went on to have three children. The third child , Lucille, was born on March 23rd in 1908 in the poorer side of San Antonio in Texas. As a child she took up dancing lessons and eventually took to the stage. She was spotted by a talent scout in 1925 which led to a contract with MGM who eventually changed her name to Joan Crawford. She died in New York in 1977.
PTGH wish to thank Jersey Tourism for their help in providing the above information.
15/11/07
