Washington Merritt Grant Singer (1866–1934) was an American-born British heir, philanthropist and prominent racehorse owner.
Washington Singer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1866 |
| Died | 1934 |
| Occupation(s) | Racehorse owner Philanthropist |
| Spouse | Ellen Mary Longsdon |
| Children | Grant Allen Singer |
| Parent(s) | Isaac Singer Isabella Eugenie Boyer |
Biography
editEarly life
editBorn in Yonkers, New York he was the third child of Isabella Eugenie Boyer and sewing machine magnate, Isaac Singer. The family moved to England when Washington Singer was still a child. He was raised at Oldway Mansion at Paignton on the Devon coast.
Equine interests
editAfter he received his inheritance upon his father's death, he originally planned to run a ranch in the American West, but after spending time hunting in Devonshire with his brother, Mortimer Singer, he decided to stay in England and become a racehorse owner.[1]
Singer was joint-master of the South Devon Hunt between 1897 and 1901, and then sole master until 1907.[2]
A Thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast, he won the 1905 St. Leger Stakes with the colt Challacombe, trained by Alec Taylor, Jr. and the 1932 2,000 Guineas with Orwell. The Washington Singer Stakes race at Newbury Racecourse is named in his honour.
He was elected to the Jockey Club in July 1921.[1]
Philanthropy
editHe became a benefactor of a number of causes and was a substantial donor to the University College of the Southwest of England, which later became the University of Exeter. One of the university's buildings, which is home to the Department of Psychology, is named in his honour.[3]
Personal life
edit
Singer lived at Steartfield House, Paignton (now the Palace Hotel).[4] He married his first wife, Blanche Wills-Hale, in 1887.[1][5] On 21 July 1915 he married Ellen Mary Longsdon, widow of Alfred Allen Longsdon, who had been drowned at Le Havre while driving his ambulance earlier that year. On 25 July 1927 they adopted Mary's youngest son, Grant Allen (Longsdon), in the name of Grant Allen Singer (1915–1942).
He was Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1924.[1]
Norman Court
editIn 1903, Singer purchased Norman Court, West Tytherley, Hampshire,[6] an 18th-century country house[7] with a 20,000-acre (81 km2) estate that included the Hampshire parishes of Buckholt and Frenchmoor, and in Wiltshire the village of West Dean and parts of Farley and Pitton. The estate was inherited by his son Grant, who was killed in action during World War II at the 1942 Second Battle of El Alamein while serving with the Royal Armoured Corps, 10th Royal Hussars.
Sold by his widow in 1952, Norman Court was the home of the private Norman Court Preparatory School from 1955 until 2012.[8] In 2021 Norman Court reopened as a training and educational centre.Norman Court training and Education Centre.[9] From 2013-2019 it has housed Montessori school.[10] The building was recorded as Grade II* listed in 1986.[7]
He died in his sleep in February 1934, in Torquay, Devon.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "W.M.G. Singer Dies; Race-horse Owner". The New York Times. 12 February 1934. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ Tozer, Edward JF (1916). The South Devon Hunt.
- ^ Schmidt, L.R., Schwenkmezger, P., Weinman, J., Maes, S. (eds.). Theoretical and Applied Aspects of Health Psychology. Harwood Academic Publishers. 1996. p. XI. ISBN 3-7186-5053-3.
- ^ "Blue Plaque Scheme: Washington M.G. Singer". Torbay Civic Society. Archived from the original on 12 October 2006.
- ^ "Small Talk of the Week". The Sketch. LII (665): 39–42. 25 October 1905.
- ^ "West Dean". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Norman Court House (1173046)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "Norman Court School, West Tytherley". Independent Schools in Hampshire. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "Norman Court: Training and Education Centre". Norman Court. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Norman Court: Montessori Nursery". Norman Court. Retrieved 8 November 2019.