Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech: A Distinguished Diplomat and Kennedy Family Friend

William David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech, connects to my family history through the Gifford line. This link comes via my cousin, Major-General Sir Henry Trotter, who married Lady Eva Gifford. The relationship is somewhat complex, but in short, the 5th Baron Harlech was the second cousin of Eva’s niece’s husband.

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A Colourful Figure in British and American History

While researching David Ormsby-Gore, I discovered a fascinating and vibrant family history intertwined with some of the most iconic figures of the 20th century — notably President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Born the second son of William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech, and Lady Beatrice Edith Mildred Gascoyne-Cecil, David came from an illustrious lineage. His mother, Lady Beatrice, was the daughter of British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, further anchoring the family’s deep political heritage.

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Wartime Service and Political Career

In 1939, Ormsby-Gore joined the Phantom reconnaissance unit, a special operations force that reported Nazi movements across Europe. By the end of World War II, he had achieved the rank of Major.

Transitioning from military to political life, Ormsby-Gore was elected Member of Parliament for Oswestry in 1950. His long-standing friendship with John F. Kennedy began years earlier when Joseph Kennedy Sr., JFK’s father, served as the American Ambassador in London.

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The Kennedy Connection: A Trusted British Ambassador

When John F. Kennedy became President, David Ormsby-Gore was appointed British Ambassador to the United States. Arriving in Washington just six months after the Kennedys entered the White House, he became more than a diplomat — he was a trusted friend and confidant.

The Kennedy administration affectionately described him as “our kind of ambassador.” Ormsby-Gore frequently visited the White House, offering political advice and even supplying JFK with Cuban cigars via his diplomatic pouch.

His influence was significant during key moments such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he ensured that British interests were heard. Ormsby-Gore also played a crucial role in advancing the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, advising Kennedy on how to project strength while avoiding perceptions of appeasement.

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Personal Tragedies and Family Life

David Ormsby-Gore’s personal life was marked by both prominence and tragedy. He married Sylvia Thomas, and together they had five children:

1. Julian Hugh Ormsby-Gore (1940–1974) – Died by apparent suicide.

2. Lady Jane Teresa Denyse Ormsby-Gore (born 1942) – Had a notable affair with Mick Jagger in the 1960s; many believe “Lady Jane” by The Rolling Stones was written about her.

3. Victoria Mary Ormsby-Gore (born 1946).

4. Alice Magdalen Sarah Ormsby-Gore (1952–1995) – Engaged to Eric Clapton in 1969; she died tragically of a heroin overdose.

5. Francis David Ormsby-Gore, 6th Baron Harlech (1954–2016).

Following Sylvia’s death in a 1967 car accident, Jacqueline Kennedy attended her funeral. Two years later, Ormsby-Gore remarried Pamela Colin, with whom he had one daughter, Pandora Ormsby-Gore, born in 1972.

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Legacy and Death

David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech, passed away on January 26, 1985, following injuries sustained in a car accident the previous evening. His funeral was attended by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Edward Kennedy, and other members of the Kennedy family — a testament to the deep bond between the two families.

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A Remarkable Family Connection

The story of David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech, adds a fascinating and colourful chapter to my family history — one that bridges British nobility, international diplomacy, and one of the most famous families in American history