Heneage Finch, 7th Earl of Aylesford (21 February 1849 – 13 January 1885), styled Lord Guernsey until 1871, and also known as Joseph Heneage Finch, was a British aristocrat and friend of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). Finch enjoyed many outdoor pursuits, and in his social circle was nicknamed "Sporting Joe."
The Aylesford Scandal, a British society scandal of 1876, as well as financial difficulties, led to Finch leaving the United Kingdom to become a cattle rancher in Big Spring, Texas.
Family
Finch's parents were Heneage Finch, 6th Earl of Aylesford, and Jane Wightwick Knightley, the only daughter of John Wightwick Knightley of Offchurch Bury: they were married on 7 May 1846. Finch's family had a residence in Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, and he was born in St George Hanover Square,England GRO Index of Births for St. George Hanover Square District, March Quarter 1849, volume 1 page 39 a historical parish that included the Mayfair district, on 21 February 1849. He was baptised at St George's on 15 March 1849. Finch had five siblings: Charles Wightwick (1851–1924), Anna Francesca Wilhelmina (1853–1933), Daniel Harry (1858–1890), Clement Edward (1861–1895) and George Cecil Moyle (1864–1865) He was educated at Eton.
On the death of his father on 10 January 1871, Finch succeeded to the title of Earl of Aylesford. He had married Edith Peers Williams only two days before, on 8 January 1871. Edith was the third daughter of Thomas Peers Williams and his wife Emily (née Bacon).
Edith and Finch had two daughters: Hilda Johannah Gwendolen (1872–1931)GRO death index for September Quarter 1931: Hilda J G Murray, Windsor District: volume 2c: page 443 (via freebmd.org.uk) who married Malcolm Donald Murray, and Alexandra Louise Minna (1875–1959)GRO birth index for September Quarter 1875: Alexandra Louise M Finch, St. George Hanover Square District: volume 1a: page 347 (via freebmd.org.uk)GRO death index for September Quarter 1959: Alexandra L M Emmet, Hendon District: volume 5e: page 353 (via freebmd.org.uk) who married Philip Samuel Danby, was widowed and later married Robert Emmet.England Probate Calendar for 1933: entry for Robert William Emmet died 10 May 1933: page 258: accessed through probatesearch.service.gov.uk
"Sporting Joe"
Despite his public position, Finch did not participate in politics to any major extent. In the 14 years in which he was a member of the House of Lords, Hansard does not record Finch as contributing to any debates. Hansard did not have comprehensive coverage before 1909. Finch was a captain of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry. He was also a county magistrate, but rarely presided over cases.
Much of Finch's participation in public life involved outdoor pursuits, including fox hunting as a member of the North Warwickshire hounds and athletic feats such as challenging local tradesmen in Warwickshire to running races, sometimes giving the winnings to charity: Finch took part in a 100-yard race on 5 June 1874 against a Master Butcher of Leamington which took place at 3 a.m. in Warwick High Street, the prize being two bottles of champagne. Finch was once described as "as fine a specimen of manhood as one often encounters," a well built man, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall in his stockings. Finch was skilled at boxing, and was particularly interested in horse racing and breeding.
Boxing Finch had received boxing training from a retired pugilist and he reportedly boasted that he could "handle the daddles". On an occasion at the Packington Steeplechases a gang of thieves attempted to steal some ancestral silver tableware from Finch's tent, and he fought them off largely single handed.
Horse racing Finch was elected a member of the jockey club in 1875, and sometimes rode or sponsored horses under the name "Mr Gillman". Finch ran a racing stud from 1871, which was managed by Captain Octavius Machell. Finch's racing colours were yellow and violet sleeves. Many of Finch's horses were sold by auction in 1873 for less than what he had paid for them. Some well-known horses that were at one time owned by Finch include Acropolis, Algérie, Bonnie Dundee, Butress, Chandos, Chausseur, Claremont (came second in the 1875 Derby, which was won by Gusztáv Batthyány's stallion Galopin), Colonel Crockett, Creon, Dhawalgirl, Flash, Glenorchie, Hermitage, Killingholme, Knight of the Garter, Lady Hilda, Leveret, Lillington (a winner at Birmingham), Little Retty, Lord Darnley, Lord of the Mines, Lowlander, Marfiori, Mexborough, Noyre Tauren, Pain Killer, Petrel, Queensland, Redivivus, Regal (on whom Finch won a private sweepstake at Stockbridge in 1875), Reugny (winner of the Grand National in 1874 after passing out of Finch's ownership), Rose of Athol (won the Great Yorkshire Stakes in 1871), St. Pancras, Sir George, Soapsuds, Vanderdecken (Vanderdecken won the Liverpool Cup in 1872), Violetta, and Wentworth.
Pranks and public altercations Finch was reported upon in newspapers on several occasions for prankish and sometimes violent behaviour. Circa July 1871, shortly after succeeding his father as Earl, 22-year old Finch was fined 40 shillings by Richmond Magistrates for throwing flour over people in the streets of Richmond. Finch then switched to throwing flour at the citizens of Hammersmith and was fined another 40 shillings.
Finch reportedly wished to witness an execution and petitioned the Governor of Warwick Prison to be allowed to attend one, but was refused, the Governor saying that an exception could not be made even for an Earl [public executions had been abolished in the United Kingdom after the Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868]. Finch ordered six Brougham carriages to wait outside the Prison for the journalists who had been allowed to witness the execution, to drive them back to Warwick town in state.
In 1874 Finch was said to have committed 'an indiscretion' towards officials at Leamington railway station, and it was stated that he had made a payment to apologise. The Birmingham Daily Post reported that while Queen Victoria's train had been waiting at Leamington station on Wednesday 20 May 1874, Finch had arrived with his local Yeomanry Company to give the Queen an Honour Guard. The Company arrived at Leamington station at around 10 p.m., and Finch had been refused entry by station porters due to the Queen's wish for privacy. Finch had dismounted his horse to try to gain admittance and 'an unseemly hand to hand struggle ensued.' The Kenilworth Advertiser reported that one witness claimed to have seen a Yeomanry member with a sword drawn threatening to cut down a station porter, though the Advertiser's reporter hoped this was an exaggeration. The incident was discussed In the House of Commons on 4 June 1874: MP Lewis Dillwyn raised a question about reports of the event. The Minister of War Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy explained that enquiries had been made of the parties concerned, and that Finch's Yeomanry had waited 'perfectly quiet' outside the station while Finch had tried to gain admittance, but Finch had resisted when physically restrained by station staff. Finch had extricated himself, and then spoke with the Queen's Private Secretary General Ponsonby though the station's railings, who told him: "Her Majesty did not wish to hurt his feelings at all, but wished that her stay in the station should be quite private," after which Finch and his company had withdrawn. An obituary for Finch asserted that the compensation payment made at the time was because Finch had punched the Station Master [the original Leamington railway station buildings were demolished in the 1930s: the modern Leamington Spa railway station is now on the same site].
In January 1879 Finch appeared at Bow Street Police Court charged with assaulting two officials named Richards and Campbell at the Royal Italian Opera House, Covent Garden, when the officials would not admit him to his box without a ticket. Finch had pushed Campbell to the ground; Richards escaped serious injury as Finch had knocked off his hat rather than directly striking his head. Finch was fined £5 for assaulting each man (£10 total).
In June 1879 Finch was summoned to Police Court at Ascot Heath for 'a jocose attempt' to hit a police officer on the helmet from his barouche carriage on the way out of Ascot Races: Finch had missed his aim and struck the officer on the cheek. As Finch had not intended injury, the summons was withdrawn.
On a brief return to England from Texas, on 28 May 1884, Finch attended the Epsom Derby and broke a leg on his railway journey back to London Bridge. Accounts as to exactly what happened vary: St Louis Post Dispatch reported that Finch had assaulted a railway porter by striking the porter on the head with his cane when asked to show his ticket, the altercation leading to a fall and Finch's leg being broken in two places. The Yorkshire Post gave an account from London Bridge railway station officials: that a man travelling on the 11.40 p.m. train from Epsom had refused to show his ticket, and had instead attempted twice to strike a Ticket Inspector on the head; the Inspector had warded off the passenger's blows and pushed him down, after which the injured man was assisted to a Cab and had given the name 'Lord Aylesford' which they had thought at the time was an assumed name. Alternatively, Finch had perhaps fallen asleep on the train and his unconscious frame had blocked a female passenger's exit from their carriage: in that version of events Finch met his accident while a porter tried to help the woman get out of the train. Finch contended that he had been assaulted by a railway official, and through his solicitor appealed for witnesses. Finch was attended by Dr Alfred Cooper while he recovered.
Financial problems Finch was known throughout his life for his personal generosity, but this was coupled with youthful "folly and extravagance" and he had accrued substantial debt against future income from his family's estates before reaching the age of majority: In 1873 Finch went to the Lord Chancellor's Court seeking legal assistance concerning an unfavourable loan agreement he had made before reaching the age of 21, with a money-lender named Morris: Finch had borrowed £8,000, partly to repay a £4,000 debt which he owed to a solicitor named Mr. Graham. Finch's debt had subsequently increased to £11,000. Finch had concealed his debt problems from his father due to his father's terminal illness, and he found he could not make any further promises against future income from family estates without alerting the family solicitor who held the title deeds. The Court decided that Finch should still repay the debt, but at an interest rate of 4% rather than Morris' previous interest rate of 60%.
In December 1880 Finch instigated legal action at Coleshill Police Court against a man named Cox who said that Finch owed him money, as Cox had arranged for Bailiffs to visit Packington Hall on 24 November 1880 and Finch felt the Bailiffs had caused a breach of the peace, though a defence of the house had been undertaken by his staff. The summons against Cox was ultimately dismissed.