Neville Bulwer-Lytton, 3rd Earl of Lytton facts for kids

Neville Stephen Bulwer-Lytton, 3rd Earl of Lytton (born February 6, 1879 – died February 9, 1951) was a talented British military officer, an Olympian athlete, and a skilled artist. He was also known as the 3rd Earl of Lytton.

Early Life and Family

Neville Lytton was born in British India on February 6, 1879. At the time, his parents, Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton and Edith Villiers, were serving as the Viceroy and Vicereine. A Viceroy was like a governor who ruled India on behalf of the British King or Queen.

Neville was the grandson of two famous novelists: Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton and Rosina Doyle Wheeler. His family was quite well-known! His sisters included Constance Lytton, who was a suffragette (someone who fought for women's right to vote), and Emily Lutyens, who was married to a famous architect.

A Sporting Start

Neville was a keen amateur cricket player. He played for Hertfordshire from 1896 to 1898. He played in five matches during that time.

He went to Eton College, a famous school in England. Later, he studied art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France.

Neville was also a talented athlete. He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. There, he won a bronze medal in the sport of real tennis. This is an older version of tennis, played indoors.

A Life of Service and Art

During World War I, Neville Lytton served as an officer. He fought on the Western Front, which was a major battle area in France and Belgium. He was part of important battles like the Somme and Amiens. People who knew him said he was a "gentleman of the old school" and served with great bravery. For his excellent service, the French government gave him a special award called the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

Artistic Achievements

After the war, Neville's artwork became very popular. Both Britain's Imperial War Museum and France's Musée de Guerre bought some of his art. It seems he even carried some of his art with him during his military duties! You can still see his large paintings, called frescos, that show his war experiences. They are on display in the Victory Hall in Balcombe village.

From about 1900 to 1940, Neville Lytton showed his art in many important galleries. These included the Royal Academy in London and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. He was also chosen as an Associate of the Société Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris, where he also showed his work.

Besides his art, Neville was also a champion tennis player. In 1911, 1912, and 1913, he was the international amateur tennis champion.

In 1947, Neville's older brother passed away. Since his brother did not have any sons who survived, Neville became the 3rd Earl of Lytton. An Earl is a noble title in Britain.

Family Life

In 1899, Neville married Judith Blunt in Cairo, Egypt. Judith later became Baroness Wentworth in her own right. She was the only daughter of the poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt and Lady Anne Blunt. Lady Anne was the daughter of Ada Lovelace, who was a famous mathematician, and the granddaughter of the poet Lord Byron.

In 1904, Neville and Judith moved to Crabbet Park Stud in England. They had three children together before they divorced in 1923:

• Noel Anthony Scawen Bulwer-Lytton: He became the 4th Earl of Lytton and 17th Baron Wentworth.
• Lady Anne Bulwer-Lytton (1901–1979)
• Lady Winifred Bulwer-Lytton (born 1904)

On May 1, 1924, Neville married again to Rosa Alexandra Fortel in France. They lived in France and had one more child:

• Lady Madeleine Elizabeth Lytton (born 1921): She became a dancer, choreographer, and teacher.

Lord Lytton passed away in Paris on February 9, 1951. His only son from his first marriage, Noel, became the next Earl.

Legacy

You can see a sketch of Neville Lytton at the National Portrait Gallery, London. This gallery keeps portraits of important people in British history.