Ambassador Charles Burke Elbrick
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The Elbrick family is a successful international banking and diplomatic dynasty of German Catholic origin, which has achieved prominence in both the Americas and Europe. In addition to their anglo-american banking activities, members of the family have served both the President of the United States and Her Majesty's Government in Great Britain as diplomatic envoys.
Origins
Their prominence began with the emigration to the United States of America of Frederick Elbrick, from Dresden in the duchy of Saxony, in the early 19th Century. The family name is a corruption of the Old German Elbrucka, meaning Elbe Bridge, reflecting the roots of the dynasty in the river valley of one of Europe's major waterways.
Frederick Elbrick initially settled in the state of Kentucky Louisville. Having established a firm basis for the family there, subsequent generations were sent to Washington, D.C. and London to pursue successful banking and diplomatic careers. Aside from its presence in those two cities, the family continues to maintain landholdings today in both New York (Otsego County) and Suffolk, England.
American Branch
Hon Charles Burke Elbrick
The dynasty first achieved international distinction under Hon. Charles Burke Elbrick, (b. Louisville, Kentucky, March 25th 1908, d. Washington DC 1983). He graduated with a leading Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College, and narrowly missed selection for a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. Having joined the United States Foreign Service in 1932, Elbrick was initially appointed Vice Consul in Panama. After a number of interim responsibilities, he was promoted to Assistant Secretary (to the Secretary of State) for European Affairs in 1957. Thereafter, Ambassador Elbrick was variously the representative of the United States to Portugal (1958), Yugoslavia (1964) and Brazil (1969). In 1969 he was honoured by the US President with the rank of Career Ambassador.
While stationed in Brazil, Charles Burke Elbrick was kidnapped by a revolutionary group in Rio de Janeiro, on September 4 1969. The incident formed the basis of the 1997 Bruno Barreto film 'Four Days in September' (O Que É Isso, Companheiro?), starring Alan Arkin, Pedro Cardoso and Fisher Stevens. The storyline was adapted from the 1979 memoirs of Fernando Gaderia, former member of revolutionary cell MR-8 and latterly a journalist and congressman in Brazil's Green Party. Ambassador Elbrick completed his diplomatic career as under-secretary of State for European Affairs.
He was married to Elvira Lindsay Johnson, daughter of Vice Admiral Alfred Wilkinson Johnson, former Head of US Navy Intelligence and Commander of the Atlantic Squadron. For distinguished service during World War II, Admiral Johnson was awarded the Legion of Merit as a Commander and was also honored with Britain's Order of the Bath. By her, Charles Burke Elbrick had two children- Alfred Johnson (b. Norfolk, Virginia, 12th November, 1938) and Valerie Elvira (b. Washington DC, 21st March, 1942). Ambassador Elbrick was a leading member of the Roman Catholic church in Washington D.C., and was knighted in the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta ('Order of Malta') by the Prince and Grand Master, Fra' Angelo de Mojana di Cologna. He was knighted in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre by the Grand Master, His Eminence Maximilian, Cardinal de Furstenberg.
Ambassador Elbrick was buried in the family's crypt in Gilbertsville, New York.
Alfred Johnson Elbrick
The only son of Ambassador Elbrick, Alfred Johnson Elbrick, graduated from Georgetown University, Washington DC, and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, reaching the rank of Captain.
Upon his honorable discharge, he commenced his career as a distinguished banker. He was elected partner of Alex Brown & Sons, the patrician US investment bank, and was responsible for the growth and capital markets support of many leading technology companies including Microsoft, Oracle and Infosys. Some years following the sequential merger of Alex Brown with Bankers Trust and then Deutsche Bank, he retired as a Managing Director of Deutsche Bank AG to form Hawkeye Capital Partners a family controlled investment office.
He married Fern Evelyn Clare, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Georgetown, Washington DC in 1967. She is the only daughter of Major David Vere Bendall MBE CMG of Ashbocking Hall in Suffolk, England, a former Grenadier or First Regiment of Foot Guards officer, British diplomat (Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Western Europe, 1969-71), senior banker at City firm Morgan Grenfell, and former Chairman of the British Red Cross Society. He is patron of Ashbocking Church. Fern Evelyn Clare's mother was born Evelyn Stephanie Merrilees Fraser Galpin (Galpin of Evreux and Fraser of Lovat).
They have four children, Tristan Charles Johnson (b.London, 8th December 1969), Sophie Evelyn Stephanie Merrilees (b. London, 25th May 1971, m. Ipswich, 2001 Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy [1]), Alexia Elvira Caroline Hannah (b. London, 21st April 1974), and Xanthe Eleanora Marie Davina (b. London 1st December 1978).
Alfred Elbrick was knighted in the Order of Malta by the Prince and Grand Master, Fra' Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie. As a yachtsman in both Dragon and Star Class Yachts, he is a member of the Otsego Lake Yacht Club, New York and Aldeburgh Yacht Club, Suffolk. He was elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) in 1994.
Anglo American Branch
Tristan Charles Johnson Elbrick
The only son of Alfred Johnson Elbrick was educated at Summer Fields School in Oxford, Eton College and Oxford University, where he graduated with a Master of Arts (Honours) in Greats or Classics (Literae Humaniores). He was highly commended in the Chancellor's Essay Prize, and was awarded a College Exhibition and a University Scholarship in Classics. While at Oxford he rowed for his college, and twice captained the University team against Cambridge University on the Cresta Run. He was subsequently elected a Life Member of the St Moritz Tobogganing Club.
After starting his career in finance with Lazard (Corporate Finance) and Nomura (Principal and Corporate Finance), he was admitted to Harvard University, where he earned his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2002. Together with his father Alfred Elbrick (qv), he founded Hawkeye Capital Partners, the family's investment research office.
He is Chairman of the Trustees of the family charity, Aquila Chrysaetos Trust (ACT), which takes its name from the golden eagle, the aquila chrysaetos of the family's arms. Like his father, he is a dedicated yachtsman, having competed in the Fastnet Race in 1999, 2001 and 2003 and the Round Ireland Race 2004 He was elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) and is also a member of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Continuing the interest and involvement of the dynasty in foreign affairs, he was made a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House in Spring 2005.
Following holidays spent in Aspen, Colorado, the engagement of Tristan Elbrick to Donna Francesca di Paola Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, Duchesa di Acerenza was formally announced in February 2005 (published in The Washington Post and London Times). The news was also published online in Royal News.
To mark the engagement a rose has been specially cultivated in honour of the future bride by expert English nurserymen R. Harkness & Co. of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. A white rose, tinged with pink in the young flowers and demonstrating both strong disease resilience and a delicate fragrance, was selected upon the advice of head nurseryman Robert Harkness. It is to be named: 'Belmonte Princess'.
It is intended that the rose 'Belmonte Princess' will be publicly unveiled in London at the Chelsea Flower Show. At the request of the couple, charitable proceeds from the subsequent sale of the rose will be dedicated to the Old Etonian Association (OEA).
The family of the Duchess of Acerenza, the Princes of Belmonte, is mentioned further below.
Sophie Evelyn Stephanie Merrilees Elbrick Dennehy
Sophie Elbrick Dennehy was educated at Benenden School, Kent and Newcastle University, where she graduated BA (Hons) in Marine Biology. After working in the equities division of UBS AG and latterly with the National Geographic Society in Washington DC, she earned a Masters degree at Trinity College, Dublin in New Media. She has one son, Milo and lives in Dublin, Ireland.
Alexia Elvira Caroline Hannah Elbrick
Alexia Elbrick was educated at Benenden School, Kent and Edinburgh University, where she graduated MA (Hons) in Classics. After working as a teacher in the British state education system in Brixton, south London, she joined Smith Leadership Academy, a Charter School in Massachusetts, USA. She is currently studying for her Masters degree in Teaching at the University of Massachusetts.
Xanthe Eleanora Marie Davina Elbrick
Xanthe Elbrick was educated at Benenden School, Kent and Edinburgh University where she graduated MA (Hons) in Theology and Philosophy. She won the BBC Act-Up Award in 2001. She is currently studying for her MFA in Acting at The Actor’s Studio in New York City, and was recently invited to join the Williamstown Theatre Festival Company, 2005.
Arms
The simple blazon of the Elbrick achievement is given as: azure the eternal triangle or, out of a cap of estate the crest of an eagle or with a chaplet of olive vert fructed or, trussing upon a grouse azure, with a wreath of the liveries; on either side supported by a tiger argent salient and reguardant, marked sable and ducally gorged, orbed azure and langed purpure, vilené sable and armed or, holding in its exterior jamb a jousting lance sable from which hangs the banner of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (gules a latin cross argent), upon a compartment of a mount vert with roses argent; above, the motto 'Aeterna Non Caduca' (The Eternal not the Ephemeral) and below 'Tria Iuncta in Uno' (Three Joined in One); for a badge the eternal triangle or surrounded by a wreath of olive vert fructed or.
The Elbrick coat of arms contains a device which takes the form of a triple sequence or bridge of the letter 'L', an instance of 'canting' or punning coat of arms. The arms are also said to have been assumed to reflect the family's devotion to the Roman Catholic Church, with the triple interlinking 'L' representing the indivisible and eternal Holy Trinity.
The complex quartered blazon of the full Elbrick achievement, infrequently used, includes the arms of twelve heraldic heirs intermarried with the family, including Burke, Johnson, Gilbert, Cox, Harris, Galpin, Fraser of Lovat, Forbes, de Kuyper, Cassell, Bendall and Dando.
Through distaff descent, the Elbricks are allied by blood to Clan Fraser of Lovat, under its current chieftain Simon Fraser, Mas Shimidh, the 18th Lord Lovat. This alliance was recognised historically by the Lovat Frasers by the appointment of one of the family as Honorary Keeper of Beaufort Castle, the Fraser's Highland seat, by the Lord Lovat.
In recognition of their Scottish ancestry and Fraser of Lovat allegiance, two family plaids are used by the Elbricks, the formal cloth Elbrick Dress and the family plaid for hunting use on the hill, Elbrick Hunting. Both are closely related to Lovat Fraser tartan.
Note on the Donna Francesca di Paola Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte
Donna Francesca
Donna Francesca, Duchesa di Acerenza (Duchess of Acerenza) is the elder of the two daughters of His Excellency Don Angelo Gennaro Granito Pignatelli, Principe di Belmonte and Donna Sarah Elizabeth Granito Pignatelli, Principessa di Belmonte. She was educated at Heathfield School in England, and abroad. Following her studies, she founded a Public Relations business (dB PR) in London which specializes in providing public relations services for jewellery and luxury goods firms.