Sir Guy Gaunt | |
---|---|
![]() Gaunt in 1912 | |
Born | Ballarat, Australia | 25 May 1869
Died | 18 May 1953 Woking, Surrey, England | (aged 83)
Nationality | British |
Known for | Admiral |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouses | Margaret Elizabeth Worthington
(m. 1904; div. 1927)Sybil Victoria Joseph
(m. 1935) |
Children | 2 daughters from second marriage |
Parent(s) | William Henry Gaunt and his wife Elizabeth Mary |
Relatives | Ernest Gaunt Mary Elizabeth Bakewell Gaunt |
Awards | KCMG CB |
Admiral Sir Guy Reginald Archer Gaunt, KCMG, CB (25 May 1869 – 18 May 1953)[1] was an Australian-born officer of the Royal Navy, counter-intelligence officer and a British Conservative Party politician.
Gaunt was born in Ballarat, Australia, to William Henry Gaunt and his wife Elizabeth Mary Palmer. Gaunt's brother-in-law was Alexander Stenson Palmer (banker and M.P. for Victoria). Gaunt's brother Ernest Gaunt was also an admiral. Their sister, Mary Gaunt, was a well-known author in Australia and wrote several travel books. Guy was educated at Melbourne Grammar School from 1881 to 1883.[1]
Gaunt first stood as a candidate for parliament at the 1918 general election. He was the Liberal candidate for Leek and despite receiving the Coalition Coupon, he was unable to hold the seat.[7] Gaunt was elected as Unionist Member of Parliament (MP) for the Buckrose constituency in the East Riding of Yorkshire at the 1922 general election, replacing the Liberal Algernon Moreing.
Gaunt resigned from the House of Commons in 1926, when he was cited as co-respondent in the divorce case between Sir Richard Cruise and his wife.
Gaunt married a widow, Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Worthington (daughter of Sir Thomas Wardle) at Hong Kong in 1904.[1] She divorced him in 1927 following the scandal with Lady Cruise, and he retired to Tangier. He later remarried on 1 December 1932 a 35-year-old widow, Sybil Victoria Joseph, née Grant White and had two daughters. He returned to live in Cobham, Surrey and died at Woking Hospital on 18 May 1953 and was cremated.[1]
Gaunt's autobiography, The Yield of the Years, was published in 1940. His brother Ernest Gaunt was also an admiral in the Royal Navy; his sister, Mary Gaunt, was a novelist.