01/21/2017
Lillie Langtry (usually spelled Lily Langtry in the United States), born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton (October 13, 1853 – February 12, 1929), was celebrated as a young woman of beauty and charm, who later established a reputation as an actress and producer. Her looks and personality attracted interest, commentary, and invitations from artists and society hostesses.
By 1881, she had become an actress and starred in many plays, including She Stoops to Conquer, The Lady of Lyons, and As You Like It, eventually running her own stage production company. In later life she performed "dramatic sketches" in vaudeville. She was also known for her relationships with noblemen, including the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Shrewsbury, and Prince Louis of Battenberg. She was the subject of widespread public and media interest.
Born in 1853 as Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, Langtry was the only daughter of Rev. William Corbet Le Breton and his wife Emilie Davis (née Martin), who was known for her beauty. They eloped to Gretna Green and, in 1842, married at Chelsea. Emilie Charlotte was born in the rectory of St Saviour's Parish Church in Jersey where her father was Rector and Dean of Jersey.
Emilie, the daughter, was the sixth of seven children and the only female child. Her brothers were Francis Corbet Le Breton (1843-72), William Inglis Le Breton (1846–1931), Trevor Alexander Le Breton (1847-70), Maurice Vavasour Le Breton (1849–1881), Clement Martin Le Breton (10 January 1851–1 July 1927), and Reginald Le Breton (1855-76). When she died, William was her last surviving brother. Purportedly, one of their ancestors was Richard le Breton, allegedly one of the assassins in 1170 of Thomas Becket.
Her French governess was unable to manage her, so Lillie was educated by her brothers' tutor. This enabled her to gain a better education than did most women of her day. Their father was the Dean of Jersey, but he earned an unsavoury reputation because of several extramarital affairs. When his wife Emilie finally left him in 1880, he left Jersey.
During her final years, Langtry, as Lady de Bathe, resided in Monaco whilst her husband, Sir Hugo de Bathe, lived in Vence, Alpes Maritimes. The two saw one another at social gatherings or in brief private encounters. During World War I, Hugo de Bathe was an ambulance driver for the French Red Cross. After Langtry's death, he remarried on November 26, 1931 in Corsica to Deborah Warschowsk Henius, a Dane.
Langtry's closest companion during her time in Monaco was her friend, Mathilde Marie Peat, said to be the widow of her butler. Peat was at Langtry's side during the final days of her life as she died of pneumonia in Monte Carlo. Langtry left Peat £10,000, the Monaco property known as Villa le Lys, clothes, and Langtry's motor car.
Langtry died in Monaco at dawn, February 12, 1929. She had asked to be buried in her parents' tomb at St. Saviour's Church in Jersey. Due to blizzards, transport was delayed. Her body was taken to St Malo and across to Jersey on February 22 aboard the steamer Saint Brieuc. Her coffin lay in St Saviour's overnight surrounded by flowers, and she was buried on the afternoon of February 23.
