Identity:

John Luke George Hely-Hutchinson, the fifth Earl of Donoughmore, was the son of Richard John, the fourth Earl of Donoughmore, and Thomasine Jocelyn, née Steele. He married Frances Isabella, the daughter of Lieutenant General Stephens, in 1874. Their seat was at Knocklofty, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. They had a son and two daughters: Richard Walter John, Viscount Suirdale (b. 1875) who became the sixth Earl of Donoughmore; Lady Evelyn (b. 1877) and Lady Norah (b. 1880).

Life:

Lord Donoughmore was a member of the Council of the Royal Geographical Society from 1864 until 1865. He had a paper published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (vol. 36, p. 145). His portrait was painted by the artist John Lavery in 1904. In 1904 Lavery was also commissioned by Lord Donoughmore to paint the portraits of Norah and Evelyn Hely-Hutchinson.

Lord and Lady Donoughmore were close friends of JW's and were invited to his famous breakfasts in Chelsea (#07927). Lady Donoughmore and JW were in correspondence from 1884 until 1903. JW wrote her a touching letter of condolence at her husband's death in 1900, in which he remarked on their kindness to him following the death of his wife (#11206).

Bibliography:

Burke, Bernard, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, 2 vols, London, 1894; Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, London, 1896; Who's Who, London, 1905; Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980.