Could this blue plaque be a window into a life well-lived? This is the Robert, Lord Boothby Plaque. It marks the former home of a remarkable man at 1 Eaton Square.
Robert John Graham Boothby was born in Edinburgh in 1900. He became a politician, author, and broadcaster. This plaque tells a small part of his story.
Boothby entered Parliament in 1924. He represented Aberdeenshire-east. He held minor ministerial posts early in his career. Later, he found his voice on radio and television.
His life was complex. He had a long affair with Dorothy Macmillan. She was the wife of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Boothby also befriended the gangster Ronald Kray.
He was made a life peer in 1958. This elevated him to the House of Lords. Robert, Lord Boothby died in Westminster Hospital in 1986.
Boothby’s early life included education at Eton College. He volunteered for the army during World War I. However, he was too young to serve on the front lines. He then studied history at Magdalen College, Oxford.
Before his political career took off, he worked for a brokerage firm. His political journey began with the Conservative Party. He served as a Member of Parliament. From 1926 to 1929, he was Winston Churchill’s private secretary. Churchill was then Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He foresaw danger. In 1932, Robert, Lord Boothby met Adolf Hitler. He recognized the danger Hitler posed. After the Nazis rose to power, Boothby urged Britain to prepare for armed conflict. He wanted to defend democracy against fascism.
During the war, Boothby joined the Royal Air Force in 1941. He served as a flight lieutenant. He became a liaison officer with the Free French Forces. France later honored him with the Legion of Honour in 1950.
In the 1950s, Robert, Lord Boothby championed UK entry into the European Economic Community. He also supported the decriminalization of homosexual acts. He remained on the left wing of the Conservative Party.
He married twice. His first marriage was to Diana Cavendish. His second marriage was to Wanda Sanna. For about thirty years, he had an affair with Dorothy Macmillan.
Robert, Lord Boothby authored several books. These included “The New Economy”, “I Fight to Live”, “My Yesterday, your Tomorrow”, and “Boothby, Recollections of a Rebel”.
This plaque on Eaton Square commemorates Robert, Lord Boothby’s life. He lived here from 1946 to 1986. It serves as a reminder of his multifaceted career and personal life. Take a moment to reflect on the life of Robert, Lord Boothby. His story is etched in the history of this city.