Alfred Lane Beit was born in London on 19th January 1903. His father was Otto Beit (1865 – 1930). His mother was Lilian Carter (1874 – 1946). Alfred was educated at Eton and at Christchurch, Oxford. His early years were spent between the family home at 49 Belgrave Square and their country estate, Tewin Water in Hertfordshire.

Sir Alfred’s father, Otto Beit was born in Hamburg, Germany. He was 13 years younger than his famous brother, Alfred, the South African mining millionaire who created the family fortune. Otto Beit first came to London in 1888 to work in his brother’s firm and from 1890 to 1898,worked in the family mining business in Africa. In 1897 he married American, Lilian Carter from New Orleans. They had four children, two boys and two girls. In 1906 Otto’s brother Alfred died and Otto devoted the rest of his life to the administration of the Beit Trust and fortune. As heir to his brother’s fortune, Otto was now a very wealthy man and a leading member of the financial community. He was also a major philanthropist, who gave a very large endowment to the Imperial College of Science and Technology, where the Beit Hall still stands. Otto was also an ardent promoter of South Africa and Rhodesia. He was honoured for his great works with a knighthood in 1920 and was made a Baron in 1924. As a great lover of art, he added to the already important collection, which was started by his brother Alfred. Following some years of ill health, Sir Otto died in 1930, aged 65.

At the age of 27, Alfred Lane Beit, now Sir Alfred, inherited his father’s title, a large fortune, and a world class collection of art. He also inherited a house in Belgrave Square and a country estate. However, Sir Alfred was not one of the idle rich. Having failed at two previous attempts, he was finally elected to Parliament as a Tory representative for the St. Pancras South East constituency in 1931. He held this seat until 1945 – in 1944 he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Colonial Secretary.

When not involved in politics or business, Sir Alfred was an art collector, pilot, skilled photographer, film maker and pianist. He also pursued a variety of sports, which included sailing, tennis, croquet and shooting. One of Sir Alfred’s favourite pastimes was world travel.

In 1939, following a short engagement, Sir Alfred married Clementine Mitford, a great beauty and first cousin to the much publicized Mitford sisters. Clementine was born in 1915. Her father, Clement Mitford, had been killed in action in France five months before her birth. He was the eldest son of Lord Redesdale. Clementine’s mother was a daughter of the Earl of Airlie. Sir Alfred and Lady Beit made their home at 15 Kensington Palace Gardens, which Sir Alfred had bought and remodelled to accommodate his collection of paintings, bronzes, furniture and other treasures. Unfortunately, the Second World War was to start just months after Sir Alfred’s marriage to Clementine and during the bombing of London, their house was damaged. Sir Alfred sold 15 Kensington Palace Gardens after the war. It later became the Iraqui Embassy.

During the Second World War, Sir Alfred served in the R.A.F. In 1940, the couple were in France where Sir Alfred operated on behalf of R.A.F. Intelligence. Sir Alfred and Lady Beit were both multi-lingual. They narrowly escaped capture getting out of France after Dunkirk. Later in the war, Sir Alfred was a squadron leader at Bomber Command under ‘Bomber’ Harris. In 1948, the Beits moved to South Africa where Sir Alfred continued his work as Chairman of the Beit Trust. He had become Chairman on the death of his father in 1930 and served in that position for the next 63 years. The Beit Trust had been set up and financed by his Uncle Alfred’s Will in 1906. This Trust is still active today under the chairmanship of Sir Alfred’s nephew, Sir Alan Munro. The Trust gives aid to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi in areas of health, education and conservation.

Apart from the Beit Trust, Sir Alfred had many business interests in Africa, including a large farm in Kenya. Despite the Beit’s love of Africa, they were appalled by the apartheid system that coincided with their move there and decided to leave in 1952. However, they continued to visit Africa every winter until Sir Alfred’s death. The decision to leave and find a new home was made all the easier by the fact that Sir Alfred had seen the great Palladian mansion of Russborough for sale in ‘Country Life’ magazine. He wired in his offer, without visiting the house, and his bid was accepted.

For the previous twenty years, Russborough had been home to Col. Denis Daly, his wife and two daughters, Ann and Avia. Col. Daly named a garden behind the west wing in honour of his first child Ann, in 1933. This garden still exists. Russborough had been loved and cared for by the Daly family during their time there, but unfortunately, through no fault of his own, Col. Daly’s investments were lost after the war and eventually he was forced to sell Russborough. The Daly’s loss was the Beit’s gain and after some alterations and refurbishment, and with the help of their architect Bill Baird, Sir Alfred and Clementine Beit moved into their new home in 1953.

From the start, the Beits played an active role in the local community. Sir Alfred was a member of both the Blessington Gun Club and local sailing club. Lady Beit was very involved in the KSPCA and the Guide Dogs for the Blind. On a national level, Sir Alfred was involved, from the early stages, with the world famous Wexford Opera Festival. He was for many years its Chairman and later its President. He was on the Board of Governors of the National Gallery of Ireland, a role Lady Beit filled in later years. During their time in Russborough, The Beits entertained with great flair. Friends and relations, people associated with the arts, the rich and famous from Jackie Onassis to Fred Astaire, the Churchills and members of the Guinness family, were all recipients of their famous hospitality.

In 1976, the Beits created the Alfred Beit Foundation to preserve Russborough and its art collection for the future enjoyment of the Irish people. In 1978, the house and grounds were opened to the public, for the first time in its history. After many years of living in peace and quiet in their splendid home, two separate art robberies, in Sir Alfred’s lifetime, changed the tranquillity of their lifestyle. During the first robbery in 1974, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit were roughly treated and tied up. Within a couple of weeks, the paintings were recovered. In 1986, a number of paintings were taken once again, which resulted in Sir Alfred donating the main paintings from the collection to the National Gallery of Ireland.

The Beits would have been forgiven for leaving Ireland during this troubled time but they both called Russborough ‘home’ and never considered moving. The Irish Government and President Mary Robinson honoured Sir Alfred and Lady Beit for their generous benefaction to the State by making them Irish citizens in 1993. This was a rare honour and the first time Irish citizenship had been awarded to British citizens.

During his life, Sir Alfred received honorary degrees from University College, Dublin and Trinity College, Dublin. He also received an honorary degree from the Imperial College, London where he was a trustee of the Beit Memorial Fellowship, endowed by his father. Although not a well man, he travelled to South Africa in February 1994 for the last time. Sir Alfred Beit died in Dublin on the 12th May, 1994, aged 91. A funeral service was held in Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin. This was attended by the Irish President. Among the numerous mourners were Sir Alfred’s many friends and relations as well as the staff of Russborough. His coffin was covered in rhododendrons from his beloved woodland gardens. His ashes were later interred in the Church of Ireland graveyard in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. His widow, Clementine, lived on at Russborough until her death on 17th August, 2005. Sir Alfred and Lady Beit had no children.

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