2 days ago
Revealed: Winston Churchill's generosity towards the man his glamorous 'first great love' chose to marry instead
A fascinating letter showing Winston Churchill's good nature towards the man who his 'first great love' chose to marry instead of him has emerged 124 years later.
The future British wartime prime minister would have been within his rights to feel aggrieved at Victor Bulwer-Lytton who had won the affection of Pamela Plowden.
But he instead showed admirable strength of character by going out of his way to give Lytton a helping hand in entering politics.
In the 1901 letter, he tells 'My dear Lytton' that he would use his connections to give him an opening and invited him to the House of Commons to further discuss his aspirations.
Lytton, who later served as Under-Secretary of India, Governor of Bengal and Acting Viceroy of India, married Plowden in April 1902, two years after she turned down Churchill's marriage proposal.
The letter begins by Churchill, who had been elected Conservative MP for Oldham in the October 1900 General Election, informing Lytton of a soon to be vacant municipal chairman role 'closely connected with local and national politics'.
He then discloses that 'my friend Goulding, to whom I introduced you the other day in the Lobby... would be a most powerful, if not an all powerful ally in the matter'.
He ends the letter by stating: 'I was speaking to G. Wyndham the other day of you and your wish to enter politics.
'He tells me your father showed him great kindness when he was quite a young man. I think you may count on him as a friend.'
It appears that Lytton took Churchill up on the offer as he took his seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative six months later, in January 1902.
The handwritten letter, marked 'Private', has emerged for sale for £4,200 (5,000 euros) at International Autograph Auctions Europe, of Malaga, Spain.
Auction specialist Richard Davie said: 'Lytton married Pamela Plowden in April 1902.
'Pamela had been an early flame of Churchill, but that relationship was amicably broken off when she decided to marry Lytton instead.
'The letter demonstrates how Churchill was able to set aside any differences or hard feelings he may have had about Lytton marrying Pamela Chichele-Plowden, although the marriage didn´t take place until nearly a year after Churchill wrote the letter, so I am not sure what the state of the personal relationships were at the time.
'The letter is also a wonderful example of Churchill as a skilled political manipulator, attempting to pave a way into politics for Lytton.
'It is a good and early example of the political manoeuvring that Churchill would become so adept at later in his career.'
He discloses that 'my friend Goulding, to whom I introduced you the other day in the Lobby... would be a most powerful, if not an all powerful ally in the matter'
The third page of the letter Churchill sent to Victor Bulwer-Lyttton
He ends the letter by stating: 'I was speaking to G. Wyndham the other day of you and your wish to enter politics
Churchill was a 22-year-old subaltern in India when he met Plowden, the daughter of the Resident at Hyderabad, in November 1896.
Churchill was instantly besotted with her, telling his mother in a letter: 'I was introduced yesterday to Miss Pamela Plowden-who lives here. I must say that she is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.'
But she rejected his marriage proposal after he returned from the Boer War in 1900, and in April 1902 married the Earl of Lytton, with whom she had four children.
Two years later Churchill first met his future wife Clementine at a society ball.
Although nothing happened on that occasion they were reacquainted in 1908 when they were seated together at a dinner party.
They became an item and Churchill proposed to Clementine at a house party at Blenheim Palace in August 1908 and they married a month later.
Despite his earlier heartbreak, Churchill and Plowden remained lifelong friends while he went on to marry Clementine Hozier in 1908.
In a letter to Pamela revealing the news, he wrote: 'I am to marry Clementine & I say to you as you said to me when you married Victor - you must always be our best friend.'
They exchanged sweet letters on the 50th anniversary of Churchill's failed marriage proposal, and continued to meet until his death in 1965.
Plowden died in 1971.
The letter being sold, dated July 17, 1901, reads: 'I have heard of something which may or may not be of use to you.
'Lord George Hamilton has vacated the Chairmanship of the London Municipal Society, ´and supposing you were inclined to undertake the various duties in connexion with this office, it might be possible to obtain it for you.
'It is, so I understand, a position closely connected with local & national politics in London and which would fit in with county council work excellently.
'If you think it worth while to hear more about it, I suggest your coming to the House of Commons on Friday afternoon and asking for me.
'The present idea is that Lord Shaftesbury should be put forward.
'I was speaking to G. Wyndham the other day of you and your wish to enter politics.
'He tells me your father showed him great kindness when he was quite a young man.
'I think you may count on him as a friend.'
In a postscript, signed with his initials 'W.S.C.', he writes: 'Please let me have an answer at your convenience.'
The sale takes place on June 17.
