Fortescue Family Genealogy & History

Grace Hubbard Fortescue, a notable New York City socialite, became infamous for orchestrating the 1932 kidnapping and murder of Joseph Kahahawai, who was wrongfully accused of raping her daughter. Convicted of manslaughter, Fortescue's ten-year sentence was controversially commuted to one hour by Hawaii's Territorial Governor Lawrence Judd. She was defended by renowned attorney Clarence Darrow. Fortescue's involvement in the sensational trial and the subsequent legal proceedings captured national attention, marking a significant moment in American legal history.

Born in Washington, D.C., Grace Hubbard Bell was part of a distinguished family. Her father, Charles John Bell, was a cousin of Alexander Graham Bell. Her maternal grandfather, Gardiner Hubbard, was the first president of Bell Telephone Company. After her mother's death, her father married her aunt, and Grace grew up at the family's Twin Oaks estate.

Adrian Henry Timothy Knottesford Fortescue (1874–1923) was an English Catholic priest renowned for his multifaceted contributions as a liturgist, artist, scholar, and adventurer. Notably, he founded the Church of St Hugh of Lincoln in Letchworth, earning acclaim for its music and liturgical richness. Fortescue's academic prowess was recognized with a rare triple doctorate and a personal accolade from Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. His works, including "Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described" and contributions to the Catholic Encyclopedia, underscore his impact on liturgical studies and Eastern Church history.

Adrian Fortescue was born into a distinguished family in Hampstead, London. His father, Edward Fortescue, was a prominent Anglican clergyman involved in the Anglo-Catholic Oxford Movement before converting to Catholicism. His mother, Gertrude Martha Robins, was the granddaughter of the 8th Earl of Thanet, linking Fortescue to a lineage of high social standing and religious dedication.

Denzil George Fortescue, 6th Earl Fortescue MC TD, was a distinguished British peer and farmer who played significant roles in both the First and Second World Wars. He served with notable gallantry in the Royal North Devon Yeomanry during the Battle of the Somme and later as a commanding officer in the Royal Devon Yeomanry and the 1st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery. Fortescue succeeded to the Earldom in 1958, becoming an active member of the House of Lords. He was also a successful fruit farmer at Ebrington Manor.

Denzil Fortescue was the son of Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue, and Hon. Emily Ormsby-Gore, with roots at the family estate in Castle Hill, North Devon. His maternal lineage traces back to William Ormsby-Gore, 2nd Baron Harlech.

Michael David Fortescue, born on August 8, 1946, in Thornbury, is a distinguished linguist renowned for his expertise in Arctic and native North American languages, including Kalaallisut and Inuktun. His career highlights include his role as a professor of linguistics at the University of Copenhagen, where he significantly contributed to the reconstruction of Eskaleut, Chukotko-Kamchatkan, Nivkh, and Wakashan proto-languages. Fortescue's publications, such as the "Comparative Eskimo Dictionary" and "Comparative Chukotko-Kamchatkan Dictionary," are seminal works in their fields. His academic excellence was recognized through his election to Academia Europaea in 2019 and his leadership as chairman of the Linguistic Circle of Copenhagen from 2005 to 2011.