New-York tribune., 1908-05-22
THE NEW DUKE OF HARCoURT.

r.. ,s1r Duke Of F4arcolIrt tenth bearer of the
title and c:ef that great Franco English house,
which is represented in Great Britain by the Cab-
net Minister. Lewis Harcourt 1and his American
wife niece Of J. Pierpont Morgan), is little fellow
only six years Of age. and has before him a long
minority during which he viii be under the care
Of his widowed mother, daughter oe the Due de Ia
Rochefoucauld-Do Doudeauville and his grandmother,
che old duchess dowager. by birth Countess
Mercy d'Argenteau. The F5arcourts are one Of the
Oldest and most historic families in France, and
trace their origin 10 Bernard the Dane, cousin Of
Rollo Duke Of Normandy in 9l2, through whom he
was invested with the L,ordsaip Of Harcourt, in
what IS the Department OF the EuTe Inc
senior branch Of the family has for its chief the
Marquis d d'Haroourt Blonde, the marquisate dat
ing from 1-50. but, although the ducal branch Is
Ire Younger Yet il has always been accounted the
most important and possesses, not alone the Duke
dom Of Harcourt, conferred in November lFoo. but
likewise the Dukedom Of Beuvron. created IN 1'Si
while il also owns the marquisates Of Thury, in
Calvados and Of de Ia Neilleray, both Of them DAT
ing back 10 the early part OF the seventeenth
century
The Harcourts took an active part in the con-
quest of England under William Of Normandy, one
q them commanding the Norman archers at the
battle of Hastings, and their names appear as
such on the Battle Abbey Roll, on the Bayeux
Tapestry in ''Brunton's Chronicle and in ''Le-
lands CoIlectanea." It during the reign of
King Richard C,=ur de Lion that Of the Har
courts became possessed Of Stanton Harcourt, in
Oxfordshire now owned by Lewis Harcourt. A
Farccu-t fought al Evesham, on the side Of the
great Earl Of Leicester; another who espoused the
cause of the House Of York Killed in the
War ~ the Roses. yet another carried Henry WIS
standard At the battle OF Bosworth-
one II The Farcourts took leading part in the
colonization Of Virginia In Queen Annes reign
Simon Harcourt became Lord High Chancellor Of
England his grandson and successor being subse
ouentIy created Earl Of Harcourt, title which
lapsed at his death in 1890 when the male line IN
England became extinct, its name. its armoTial
bearings and its possession passing TO The nephew
the last earl, William Vernon, who, adopting the
name Of Tarcourt, the grandfather of Lewis
HaroourT King Edward Minister Of Public
Works
in France the history Of the Harcourt family
was equally ilustrious. and prior 10 the great
revolution the family had furnished less than
Eve Feld rnarshals tC the French army, besides
numerous other great dgnitarfes Of the Stale.
Crl Of Them founded the former College Of ffar-
fou-r which is now the College OF France. in
Paris In fact the history OF the Harc0uTt family
my be said 10 be 10 great extent The history of
France.
TIE Iate duke was captain Of infantry on the
retired lis: Of the French army. and uuiyer-
F9taists but also his political adyefsaries
H Was rather small iE stature BAT had nothing
q that sggressiyeness IN his manner which
often cl7aractertzes short While
f7l-deres viia wealth. he Dukes Of Harcourt
nevertheless comfortably of, possessing quite
enough fortune indeed, 10 enable them TO .ntain
in 2 fit manner the dignity Of their ancient name
The new duke finds himself master OF Il grand
old mansion in the Faubourg st. German. and
A Rue de yarenness and cf chateeau and large
estates in the Department Of Calvados