Correspondence and papers of Sir Maurice William Ernest de Bunsen and his family
Comprises:
Political, semi-official, personal and family correspondence and papers of Sir Maurice William Ernest de Bunsen (1852-1932). His correspondence and papers make up the bulk of this collection. They fall into two groups: letters written by de Bunsen to his family; letters written to de Bunsen and his professional and private papers. There is also some material related to his elder brother, Fritz, and his sisters, Hilda (married Baron Deichmann) and Marie.
Social and family correspondence and papers of Berta Mary de Bunsen (née Lowry-Corry, 1869-1954), c. 1890-1945.
Miscellaneous family and other correspondence and papers of Montagu William Lowry-Corry, Lord Rowton (1838-1903), uncle of Berta Mary de Bunsen, private secretary to Disraeli 1866-1881, c. 1877-1916.
Mainly diaries, correspondence and sketches of Elizabeth Gurney (died 1903), mother of Maurice de Bunsen, third daughter of Samuel Gurney of Earlham, married Ernest Christian Ludwig de Bunsen of Abbey Lodge, Regent's Park (he was the second son of Baron von Bunsen, Prussian minister in England 1841-1854), and of her sisters Richenda Cunningham and Sarah Gurney, c. 1826-1850.
Dates
- Creation: 1826-1968
Extent
3.77 Linear metres (59 boxes)
Language of Materials
- English
- French
- German
- Spanish; Castilian
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark, e.g. MS. 12138/1].
Full range of shelfmarks:
MSS. 12138/1-59
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 12138
Abstract
Correspondence and papers of Sir Maurice William Ernest de Bunsen (1852-1932), diplomat, and his family (c.1826-c.1945).
Biographical / Historical
Sir Maurice William Ernest de Bunsen was educated at Rugby and Christ Church, Oxford, and entered the British diplomatic service in 1877. He was Secretary of the British legation in Tokyo, 1891-1894, Charge d'Affaires and Consul General in Bangkok, 1894-1897, First Secretary in Constantinople, 1897-1902, and in Paris, 1902-1905. He was Minister at Lisbon, 1905-1906, Ambassador at Madrid, 1906-1913, Ambassador at Vienna, 1913-1918, and headed a mission to South America in 1918. He became 1st baronet in 1919. Sir Maurice de Bunsen married Berta Mary Lowry-Corry, daughter of Armar Lowry-Corry (died 1893), in 1899 and had four daughters. He retired from the diplomatic service in 1918 and worked in the City until his death in 1932. Details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.
Custodial History
On the death of Sir Maurice de Bunsen in 1932, without male issue, the papers passed to his eldest daughter Hilda, wife of Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were given to the library by Lady Salisbury-Jones in 1986.
Subject
- Bunsen | Berta Mary de | 1869-1954 | née Lowry-Corry (Person)
- Bunsen | Elizabeth de | d 1903 | née Gurney (Person)
- Bunsen | Sir | Maurice William Ernest de | 1852-1932 | 1st Baronet | diplomat (Person)
- Corry | Montagu William Lowry- | 1838-1903 | Baron Rowton | politician and philanthropist (Person)
- Title
- Correspondence and papers of Sir Maurice William Ernest de Bunsen and his family
- Status
- Published
- Author
- David Natzler, 1976. EAD version by Gemma Kennish Persello, 2020.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk