Today, if Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont CB is mentioned, few people in Newmarket would know who he was, nor all the things he did to benefit the town during his short lifetime. He spent a great deal of his own fortune improving Newmarket and its prospects in various ways, which we shall look at in the next article.
Harry was born on May 31st 1861 in London. He was not from a noble family. His father, Hugh Barklie Blundell McCalmont was a barrister. However, Hugh’s family were certainly wealthy. His uncles Hugh and Robert, established the successful London banking company ‘McCalmont Brothers’. This made them two of the wealthiest men in Britain in the 19th century. Their nephew, Hugh, was therefore very well educated at a number of prestigious schools and universities. In turn, he ensured that his son, Harry, was similarly educated at Eton School. Such family connections also meant that Harry was to eventually inherit a great fortune.
In 1881 Harry gained a military commission in the 6th (Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. A transfer to the Scots Guards followed in 1885. In 1889 Harry retired from the regular army, At this point he became Colonel of the 6th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The Militia were part-time voluntary regiments, raised up in different counties. During his time in the army Harry founded the Army Football Association together with Captain Lawrence of the London Rifle Brigade.
Harry actually married twice, although he had no children. Sadly, his first wife, Amy Miller died in 1889. In 1895 he then married Winifred de Bathe, daughter of Sir Henry de Bathe, 4th Baronet. Winifred brought into the marriage many new, prestigious connections in society for Harry.
A little-known fact is that the noted actress, and mistress of King Edward VII, Lillie Langtry, became sister-in-law to Harry after his marriage to Winifred. The King had long-time racing interests of his own in Newmarket and he too had a thoroughbred stud farm.
Harry’s military career took him into conflict in 1899 during the Boer War, from which he and Winifred returned in June 1901.
In 1888 Harry had begun to inherit his great wealth after his Father’s Uncle Hugh died. The money was paid to Harry gradually, so he decided to invest by buying Cheveley Park, near Newmarket, from the Duke of Rutland. Harry was interested in fine horses and racing, so he saw this investment offered him many opportunities and he established a very successful stud at Cheveley Park.
Harry McCalmont was chosen as Conservative candidate for MP for Newmarket (Cambs) in 1895, and he convincingly beat the current Liberal MP. Again, Harry won convincingly and even increased his majority in the 1901 election after he had returned to the Boer War. He was later awarded CB postnomial for his South African service (CB = Commander of the Order of the Bath, the rank just below a full knighthood)
Harry had many other interests. He was a member of The Jockey Club (elected 1893). He was also a keen yachtsman, so he not only pursued this interest but he also became a Member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Another of his interests was Freemasonry. Over his career he belonged to three or four different Masonic Lodges in different places.
In the next and future articles we shall look at Harry’s many surprising legacies to Newmarket. He crammed in much and accomplished a lot within his 41 years of life. He sadly died of heart failure in his London home, December 8th 1902. He is buried in Cheveley churchyard.
History
Colonel Harry McCalmont - Newmarket Benefactor (Part 1)
