New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-08
BARON AN IR|SH-SWEDE
His Name Notable in the Ameri-
can War of Independence.

Cdii Vph VI iiiuCpCliuCIIOC'
.corvrisht 1911 by the Brentwood Company
Baron Won Robeck who has Just arrived
IN America from Ireland, is although a
member of the Swedish nobility and the
rossessor Of a Swedish title, an Irishmsn-
that Is. II being born and bred IN Ireland.
with several generations of Irish forbears.
&c enough to make one a son Of Erin His
patronymic is Fock, hut it is his title of
Baron Won RObeck that will sound more
familiar to the people Of this country where
his grest-grandfather. John Henry Fock.
Baron Won Robeck. played ap important
role in hehtlng for the American cause IN
the War Of Independence. lie entered the
swedish army as a cornet Of cavalry and
attained permission of the then Swedish
King 10 Join a French regiment under
orders for America. Here he served under
the command Of the Comte de RoCham-
beau. was aide-de-camp for time Of the
puke Of lauzun and was badly wounded
~ the battle Of Gloucester. Returning 10
france i'm 1888. he received from the French
government pension of 500 livres a year
for his distinguished services in America.
and. being invaded out Of the French
6rTll. iflui itu 10 sweden.
Having fallen in love with a beautiful
Irish girl. daughter and sole heiress Of the
Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick. younger brother
Of the Earl Of Upper Ossory. he emigrated
70 Ireland secured naturalization by act OF
Parliament as a subject of George III and
became through his wife possessed Of all
her fathers. grandfatkers and uncle's prop
erty including their ancestral home, Cow
ran Grange, near Mas. in County Kildare.
he died leaving only one son. who served
throughout the Peninsular War under the
great Duke OF Wellington. and was twice
married, the first time 10 a daughter Of
Lord Cloncurry and subsequently, to Miss
Emily Fitzgerald, niece Of the third Duke
Of Leinster The late baron also served in
the army. and SO, too. has his son and sue
cesSor. now in this country. In fact. the
present baron is a lieutenant colonel on the
retired list Of the Royal Artillery. and for
time was Chief Commissioner Of Police
IN Dublin. He is married to one Of the
Alexanders, Of Straw Hail. in County Car
low. and has several children. There IS.
besides the original parent stem Of the
family in Sweden, also Russian branch,
me head OF which is Lieutenant General
Fock. who distinguished himself in the Far
Orient in connection with the defences Of
Port Arthur during the war in Manchuria.
New Peer Well Known Here.
Sir Edward Strachey. upon whom King
George has just bestowed a peerage. is A
frequent visitor to this country. where his
name is we'll known; partly on his own &C
count partly owing TO the fact that his
Younger brother. John St. Lee Strachey, is
the owner and editor of THE London Spec
tstor alone among the big English week
lies to generally take a friendly view of
American afairs-and partly also because
Sir Henry Strachey. the first baronet Of
the line. was one OF the commissioners for
the restoration of peace between Great
Britain and the United States after the
lstters. war Of independence. Sir Henry
Strachey was likewise chief secretary and
principal lieutenant Of his cousin, the great
Lord Give. during his governorship Of In
Ola. Indeed. Sir Henry and Lady strachey
were staying With Give when he committed
suicide. At Sutton Court. I'm Somersetshire,
the ancestral home of the stracheys. there
are many relics Of Give. among others the
watch which he wore throughout his stay
one Of the chief creators.
Sir Henry Strachey's selection as one Of
the commissioners of peace with the United
States was a very fortunate one. as he had
always been warm friend Of this country,
and. owning estates I'm Florida, introduced
indigo there for cropping purposes, for
which he received gold medal from the
Society Of Arts. Sutton Court has been in
the possession Of the Strachey family since
the reign OF James I. having previously
belonged, among others. to the st. Loes,
from whom Sir Edward is descended in
the female line. 1t dates back to the time
Of Edward II, and Is wonderfully pictur
esoue. the trees and lawns of the grounds
IS well as the stones and architecture Of
the building. bearing abundant evidence OF
its antiquity. John Locke, the great phil
osopher. spent much OF his time there with
the FIRST OF the Stracheys to own Sutton
Court haunting especially its library.
where among other treasures. VIII he
found William Strachey's The Historic of
Travaile into Virginia Britannia, dated
$50 Tie graphic narrative contained
therein OF the violent storm which pre-
vailed when he was shipwrecked on the
Formulas IS generally believed TO have
formed the foundation of Shakespeare's &C
count Of tie shipwreck in The Tempest.
But the new peers ancestry goes much
further Back than the reign of James l.
when the Stracheys first became possessed
Of Sutton Court. The family halls origi-
nsIlv from Bohemia, I'm the history OF
which II figured prominently, and he Is
able IN trace a double descent from King
John a John Strachie was knighted at the
hattie Of Crecy IN 1884, and in the shrieval
rolls Of -Sonersetshire the name frequent
r. occurs. in the reign Of Henry III, or the
three Edwards and of Richard ii.
Sir Edward has served on several coca
sion~ az treasurer Of the royal household,
in that way continuing the traditions OF
his family. since the first baronet, Sir
Henry Strachey. died as master OF the
household 10 King George III. He has for
MANY Years represented his native county
IN the House OF Commons, and has also
bee0 Under Secretary Of the Department
of Agriculture. where his place Is now
taken ~ Lord Lucas. lie is married 70 a
niece Of the late Frances. Countess OF
vsldegrsve
LADY Strachey. who inherited her Ia
nous ouut's library. jewels and many other
Of her treasures. has achieved place IN
literature bv editing "The Letters OF 70
ward Icar." They have one son and a
daughter. the former an officer or me
Grenadicr Guards.