Clarissa Madeline Georgiana Felicite Tennant (13 July 1896 – 3 September 1960), known as Clare Tennant, later Clare Tennyson and Clare Beck, was an English socialite, prominent in early 20th century high society in London.

Early life

Clare was born on 13 July 1896. She was the only daughter of Edward Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner, and

Pamela Wyndham Pamela Adelaide Genevieve Grey, Viscountess Grey of Fallodon (born Wyndham; later Pamela Tennant, Baroness Glenconner; 14 January 1871 – 18 November 1928), was an English writer. The wife of Edward Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner, and later of ...

. Among her brothers was poet Edward,

Stephen Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

and

David Tennant David John Tennant (''né'' McDonald; born 18 April 1971) is a Scottish actor. He rose to fame for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor (2005–2010 and 2013) in the BBC science-fiction TV show ''Doctor Who'', reprising the rol ...

. Her paternal grandparents were Emma Winsloe and

Sir Charles Tennant, 1st Baronet Sir Charles Clow Tennant, 1st Baronet JP DL (4 November 1823 – 4 June 1906) was a Scottish businessman, industrialist and Liberal politician. Early life Tennant was the son of John Tennant (1796–1878) and Robina (née Arrol) Tennant. His ...

. Her uncle was Harold Tennant, and her aunt,

Margot Tennant Emma Margaret Asquith, Countess of Oxford and Asquith (' Tennant; 2 February 1864 – 28 July 1945), known as Margot Asquith, was a British socialite, author. She was married to H. H. Asquith, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from 189 ...

was the wife of Prime Minister

H. H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928), generally known as H. H. Asquith, was a British statesman and Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom f ...

. In her younger years she was often seen at the Ritz Hotel in London, dining with the likes of

Cynthia Asquith Lady Cynthia Mary Evelyn Asquith (née Charteris; 27 September 1887 – 31 March 1960) was an English writer and socialite, known for her ghost stories and diaries.Richard Dalby, ''The Virago Book of Ghost Stories''.Virago, London, , 1987 (p. 23 ...

Osbert Sitwell Sir Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell, 5th Baronet CH CBE (6 December 1892 – 4 May 1969) was an English writer. His elder sister was Edith Sitwell and his younger brother was Sacheverell Sitwell. Like them, he devoted his life to art and ...

, Gilbert Russell and Maud Nelke. Mary Abbott describes her as a "notorious 'bolter'", while

Barbara Cartland Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland, (9 July 1901 – 21 May 2000) published as Barbara Cartland was an English writer, known as the Queen of Romance, who published both contemporary and historical romance novels, the latter set primarily duri ...

called her "the most beautiful woman I had ever seen."

Personal life

She married three times. Her first marriage was to William ''Adrian'' Vincent Bethell, whom she married on 18 August 1915. Before they divorced in 1918, they were the parents of one daughter: * Diana Hermione Bethell (1916–1967), who married Richard Purcell Blow, and had issue, the author Simon Blow. On 27 March 1918, she remarried to Maj.

Lionel Tennyson, 3rd Baron Tennyson Lionel Hallam Tennyson, 3rd Baron Tennyson (7 November 1889 – 6 June 1951) was known principally as a first-class cricketer who captained Hampshire and England. The grandson of the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the son of the Governor-Genera ...

, grandson of the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the son of

Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, (11 August 1852 – 2 December 1928) was a British aristocrat who served as the second governor-general of Australia, in office from 1903 to 1904. He was previously Governor of South Australia from 1899 to 1 ...

, the Governor-General of Australia. Before their divorce in 1928, they were the parents of three sons, including the 4th and 5th Baron Tennyson: * Harold Christopher Tennyson (1919–1991), the 4th Baron Tennyson who died unmarried. * Mark Aubrey Tennyson (1920–2006), the 5th Baron Tennyson who married Deline Celeste Budler but died without issue. * Lionel Tennyson (1925–1925), who died in infancy. In 1928, she married James Montgomery Beck Jr., son of James M. Beck, a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from Pennsylvania who served as

U.S. Solicitor General The solicitor general of the United States is the fourth-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. Elizabeth Prelogar has been serving in the role since October 28, 2021. The United States solicitor general represent ...

under Presidents

Warren G. Harding Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. A member of the Republican Party, he was one of the most popular sitting U.S. presidents. A ...

and Calvin Coolidge. Before their separation in 1936 and divorce in 1939, and Clare were the parents of twins: * James Montgomery Beck III (1929–2006), who adopted Reverend David Lawson-Beck. * Virginia Clare Beck (1929–2008) She died on 3 September 1960 aged 64 and is buried at the Traquair Kirkyard in Traquair, Scotland.Ancestry.com. ''Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current'' atabase on-line Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

References

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tennant, Clare 1896 births 1960 deaths Daughters of barons English socialites