Winsor Family Genealogy & History

Kathleen Winsor, an American author born in 1919, is best known for her 1944 novel "Forever Amber." This controversial yet bestselling work, set during the Restoration period, sold over three million copies despite being banned in several states for its sexual content. Winsor's exploration of themes like fashion, politics, and public disasters made her a literary celebrity. Her subsequent novels, including "Star Money" and "The Lovers," did not achieve the same level of success. Winsor remained a notable figure in American literature until her death in 2003.

Kathleen Winsor was born in Olivia, Minnesota, and later raised in Berkeley, California. Her father worked as a real-estate dealer. Winsor was married multiple times, including to big-band leader Artie Shaw and former FCC head Paul A. Porter.

Sir Thomas Philip Winsor, born on December 7, 1957, in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, is a prominent British arbitrator, mediator, and lawyer. Known for his role as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services from 2012 to 2022, Winsor was the first to hold such positions from outside the police service. He also served as the Rail Regulator from 1999 to 2004, overseeing significant changes in Britain's rail infrastructure. Winsor's knighthood in 2015 and his distinguished legal career, specializing in energy law and project finance, further manifest his impactful contributions to public service and law.

Born to Thomas V M Winsor and Phyllis Bonsor, Winsor was educated at Grove Academy in Broughty Ferry and later studied law at the University of Edinburgh. His family origins trace back to Dundee, where he began his legal career before moving to London to join and eventually lead significant legal practices.

Justin Winsor was a pioneering American writer, librarian, and historian, renowned for his contributions to the early history of North America. As the first president of the American Library Association and the third president of the American Historical Association, Winsor was instrumental in shaping library science and historiography. His notable works include the "Narrative and Critical History of America," a standard reference for decades. Winsor's innovative approach to library management, particularly at the Boston Public Library and Harvard University, emphasized accessibility, education, and professionalization, making libraries central to academic and public life.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Justin Winsor was the son of Nathaniel Winsor III, a shipping merchant who established the Winsor Line, and Ann Thomas Howland Winsor. The Winsor family had deep roots in shipbuilding in Duxbury, Massachusetts, where his grandfather's house now serves as the headquarters of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society.

Frederick Albert Winsor, born Friedrich Albrecht Winzer in 1763 in Braunschweig, Germany, was a pioneering inventor in gas lighting technology. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work in the UK and France, including the significant achievement of lighting Pall Mall, London, with gas lamps in 1807. Winsor, who moved to Britain before 1799, was instrumental in advancing the technology of gasworks. Despite his innovations, his ventures in Paris were less successful, leading to the liquidation of his company in 1819. His contributions to gas lighting are commemorated with a plaque on Pall Mall and a memorial in Kensal Green Cemetery.