Mark Birley

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Mark Birley
Born
Marcus Oswald Hornby Lecky Birley

(1930-05-29)29 May 1930
Died24 August 2007(2007-08-24) (aged 77)
NationalityBritish
EducationEton College
Alma materUniversity College, Oxford
Known forEntrepreneur
Spouse
Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1975)​
ChildrenRupert Birley
Rhoda Vava Mary Lecky Pike
RelativesMaxime de la Falaise (sister)
Hugh Hornby Birley (2x great-grandfather)

Marcus Oswald Hornby Lecky Birley (29 May 1930 – 24 August 2007), known as Mark Birley, was a British entrepreneur known for his investments in the hospitality industry.[1]

Early life

Mark Birley was the son of

Yves Saint Laurent
.

He was educated at

Philosophy, Politics and Economics but he left after failing his first year exams.[2] He then started working as a copywriter for J. Walter Thompson.[3]

Career

In 1963, Birley founded

the Prince of Wales.[2]

In 1972, Birley opened Mark's Club and continued to expand his portfolio in the restaurant, nightclub and hotel business. He became the owner of the Annabel's Group, which includes Mark Birley Holdings Limited.[4] In 1979 Birley opened Harry's Bar on South Audley Street in Mayfair. It became noted for its Italian cuisine.[5] He launched a men's fragrance line, Mark Birley for Men, in 1996, in collaboration with the perfumers Frédéric Malle and Pierre Bourdon. Birley also designed the former family offices of Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo, in the City of London into a member's club, The Walbrook Club, which opened in 2000.[6]

In 1989 Birley established the Bath & Racquets Club on Brook's Mews.[7]

Personal life

On 10 March 1954, he married

Sir James Goldsmith (1933–1997), and gave birth to two of Goldsmith's children while she was still married to, but separated from, Birley. The Birleys divorced in 1975.[8]
Mark and Annabel had three children:

As a child Birley's son Robin was mauled and badly scarred for life by a tiger at the private zoo of family friend John Aspinall (1926–2000).[citation needed] In 1986, Birley's other son, Rupert, disappeared in Togo and was never found. He is assumed to be deceased.[9]

In his last years, Birley himself was disabled and needed to use a wheelchair. For a time, he turned over the reins of his businesses to his two surviving children.[4] In 2006, however, Birley dismissed his son Robin and returned to the helm of his empire, which until his death he ran with his daughter India Jane.[2]

Birley lived at Thurloe Lodge in South Kensington for 30 years.[10][11] India Jane sold Thurloe Lodge in 2011 for £17 million.[11] An auction of 500 of Birley's possessions from the house was held at Sotheby's in March 2013.[11] The auction realised £3.85 million.[11]

Death

He died on 24 August 2007, aged 77, following a stroke.[2][4] His memorial service was held at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Mark Birley". The Daily Telegraph. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Vat, Dan van der (29 August 2007). "Mark Birley". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Wild About Harry's". www.vanityfair.com. 12 October 2005.
  4. ^ a b c d Jebb, Louis (2 September 2007). "Mark Birley". The Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Mark Birley". The Times. No. 69101. 27 August 2007. p. 43. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  6. ^ Hall, Amanda (10 June 2000). "City Profile: The king of clubs". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  7. ^ "When playing the game means following the dress code". The Times. No. 63383. 2 May 1989. p. 21. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Mark Birley". The Daily Telegraph. 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  9. ^ a b "FindArticles.com – CBSi". Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  10. ^ Bloomfield, Ruth (19 April 2013). "Birley house set for demolition". The Times. No. 70863. p. 102. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  11. ^
    Daily Telegraph
    . 22 March 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  12. ^ "London". Vanity Fair. December 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

Sources

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