The marriage of the Marquis of Reading, formerly Vicercy and Governor-General of India, to Miss Stella Charnaud, formerly a member of the Viceregal staff in India, was announced here to-day to take place in London to-morrow. The marriage ceremony will be a quiet affair, it is announced. Immediately after the wedding the Marquis and Marchioness of Reading will leave for Paris.
Miss Stella Charnaud, who is 37 years of age, has been for many years Lord Reading’s personal secretary and chief of his staff of all his political and business interests. She first became associated with Lord Reading when she was a member of the Viceregal Staff in India and he was the Viceroy. Since his return to England, Miss Charnaud has acted as Lord Reading’s “right-hand man”, and afforded him invaluable assistance in matters relating to India and the Round Table Conference.
Miss Charnaud is known in diplomatic circles as a person who has a wide and intimate knowledge of Indian affairs. She has mastered many languages. She is the daughter of the late Mr. Charles Charnaud, who represented Great Britain on the International Public Debt Organisation which was set up by the Great Powers in Turkey in connection with the loan granted to that country after the Crimean War. Miss Charnaud is one of a family of four, having two brothers and one sister. One of her brothers was an officer in the Royal Navy and now holds a post in the Colonial Service.
LORD READING MARRIED FOR 43 YEARS TO HIS FIRST WIFE: THE LATE LADY READING: THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF LORD READING.
Lord Reading was 70 years of age last October. He lost his first wife 18 months ago, after 43 years of married life. Lady Reading died on March 30th., 1930. She was Alice Edith, third daughter of the late Albert Cohen, and her marriage to Lord Reading (then Mr. Rufus Isaacs) took place in 1887 soon after he was called to the Bar.
Lord Reading’s career has been one of the most brilliant of modern times.
Starting as a ship’s boy, he has been clerk, barrister, Solicitor-General, Attorney-General, Lord Chief Justice, and finally Viceroy of India.
EAch step in this climb of the ladder of fame has been made possible by a rare combination of unlimited patience, hard work and remarkable brain-power. These characteristics he retained to the full when, at the age of 70 in October last year, he accepted membership on behalf of the Liberal Party of the Round Table Conference on India.
It is with India that his name will always be most prominently associated. He first saw the country as a cabin-boy on the Hoogli River.
At the age of 27 he was called to the Bar, and with-in eleven years – in 1898 – he had taken silk. Mr. Rufus Isaacs, K.C. – later Sir Rufus – became a name associated with most of the leading cases.
He afterwards entered politics with the same enthusiasm he had shown for the law. He was elected to Parliament for Reading as a Liberal in 1904. Six years later he was appointed Solicitor-General and a few months afterwards promoted to Attorney-General.
His appointment as Lord Chief Justice followed in 1913, and 1921 saw the opening of his memorable term as Viceroy of India at a time when the situation in that country was delicate and often dangerous. He came home in 1926.
He was the only ex-Viceroy on the India Round Table Conference.
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