Nancy Elizabeth Louise, Lady Smiley (née Hardy Beaton; 30 September 1909 – 6 June 1999) was an English socialite who, together with her sister,

Baba Beaton Barbara Jessica Hardy Beaton (21 January 1912 – 18 March 1973), known as Baba Beaton, was an English socialite who, together with her sister, Nancy, was known as one of the Beaton Sisters, and was included in ''The Book of Beauty'' by their br ...

, was known as one of the Beaton Sisters and was included in ''The Book of Beauty'' by their brother,

Cecil Beaton Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, (14 January 1904 – 18 January 1980) was a British fashion, portrait and war photographer, diarist, painter, and interior designer, as well as an Oscar–winning stage and costume designer for films and the theat ...

Biography

Nancy Beaton was born 30 September 1909, in London, the daughter of Ernest Walter Hardy Beaton (1867–1936), a timber merchant from Hampstead, and Esther "Etty" Sisson (1872–1962). Her paternal grandfather was Walter Hardy Beaton (1841–1904), founder of the family business "Beaton Brothers Timber Merchants and Agents". Nancy was one of the first models of her brother Cecil. Nancy Beaton was presented as a debutante at court in 1928, at the

Queen Charlotte's Ball The Queen Charlotte's Ball is an annual British debutante ball. The ball was founded in 1780 by George III as a birthday celebration in honour of his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, for whom the ball is named. The Queen Charlotte's Ball ...

, in the presence of

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

. She was part of a

Bright Young Things __NOTOC__ The Bright Young Things, or Bright Young People, was a nickname given by the tabloid press to a group of Bohemianism, Bohemian young Aristocracy (class), aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London. They threw flamboyant costume party, f ...

' scandal when she,

Stephen Tennant Stephen James Napier Tennant (21 April 1906 – 28 February 1987) was a British socialite known for his decadent, eccentric lifestyle. He was called "the brightest" of the "Bright Young People". Early life Tennant was born into British nobili ...

, and

David Plunket Greene David Plunket Greene (19 November 1904 – 24 February 1941), together with his brother Richard and sister Olivia, was part of the Bright Young Things who inspired the novel ''Vile Bodies'' to Evelyn Waugh, a family friend. Biography David Plun ...

were thrown out from a party at the home of the Countess of Ellesmere they were crashing. Nancy Beaton Wedding

In January 1933 she married Sir Hugh Houston Smiley, 3rd Baronet (1905–1990).

Constance Spry Constance Spry (née Fletcher, previously Marr; 5 December 1886 – 3 January 1960) was a British educator, florist and author in the mid-20th century. Life Constance Fletcher was born in Derby in 1886, eldest child and only daughter of Geor ...

arranged the flowers and the wedding was a successful sociality event. The dresses were designed by her brother,

. Baba Beaton,

Margaret Whigham Ethel Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll ('' née'' Whigham, formerly Sweeny; 1 December 1912 – 25 July 1993) was a Scottish heiress, socialite, and aristocrat who was most famous for her 1951 marriage and much-publicised 1963 divorce fr ...

, Lady

Bridget Poulett Lady Bridget Elizabeth Felicia Henrietta Augusta Poulett, Señora Robledo (29 January 1912 – 1975), was an English socialite, sometime model of Cecil Beaton. Biography Lady Bridget Elizabeth Felicia Henrietta Augusta Poulett was born on 29 Jan ...

, and Lady Anne Wellesley were among the bridesmaids. According to her brother

in ''The Book of Beauty'' (1933): "I am enthralled at the childish intentness and gaiety of Nancy when looking for a coral tiara in a curiosity shop, by the complexion that emerges from underneath the water after she has fallen off an aquaplane board, by her dazzling blondness when, like a Gainsborough, writing her diary on a haystack." She died on 6 June 1999.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beaton, Nancy 1909 births 1999 deaths Beaton family British debutantes English socialites English female models Wives of baronets