The Lost Heirs : The Rise and Fall of the D’Oyly Carte Dynasty

The name D’Oyly Carte is recognised throughout the world as a consequence of Richard D’Oyly Carte’s partnership with Gilbert and Sullivan, which produced the fourteen Savoy comic operas during the last quarter of the 19th Century. These in turn are recognised as the genesis of ‘the musical’ that is such an important part of commercial theatre today. It was the success of these operas that paved the way for D’Oyly Carte’s other achievements, building his own theatres and establishing a chain of luxury hotels that included The Savoy Hotel, Claridge’s and The Berkeley.

Behind these achievements, however, lay stories of family unhappiness, strife and tragedy. In particular, it was the losses of two young potential male heirs in two generations of the D’Oyly Carte family that led to the demise of this famous family dynasty in the 20th Century.

The stories behind the lives and premature deaths of these heirs are revealed in detail for the first time, set against the life of Richard D’Oyly Carte and the stormy relationship of Gilbert and Sullivan.

This is a story to appeal to the world-wide enthusiasts of Gilbert and Sullivan or those coming to the subject for the first time.