Mrs Mary Smyth Hunter

The death occurred at his residence in London, at the age of 65, of Mr Charles E. Hunter, who was a prominent figure for many years in the Northern coal trade and North of England politics. Mr Hunter was the son of Mr William Hunter, a former Mayor of Newcastle, and largely interested in the coal trade, having been Chairman of Charlaw and Sacriston Collieries (Limited), Durham, and the Houghton Main Colliery (Limited), and the Manvers Main Collieries (Limited), Yorkshire. Mr Hunter had been a member of the Durham Conciliation Board, and the Durham County Council, and was a magistrate for the county. He served for some time in the Northumberland Hussars, and though retired when war broke out, again offered his services and found useful employment on home defence work.

Mr Hunter was a keen sportsman, hunted a good deal, and for some years leased the Wemmergill Moors from Lord Strathmore, while he owned several horses which one honours in steeple chases. In politics Mr Hunter was a Conservative; and had been an active partisan for a number of years. He fought several election, but none successfully, although he had reduced Radical majorities. Mid Durham against the late Mr John Wilson, Hexham (Northumberland), against the present Lord Allendale, and Scarborough were the seats he contested.

For a number of years Mr Hunter resided at Selby Hall, Gainford, near Darlington, but latterly had lived at Hill Hall, Epping. Mr Hunter married Miss M.E. Smyth, daughter of General J.H. Smyth, and leaves a widow and three daughters, Mrs L. Carey-Elwes, Mrs F.C. Wiliamson and Lady Grant Lawson.

A great number of attached friends will learn with sorrow that Mary, widow of Charles Edward Hunter, late of Hill Hall, Epping, died on Wednesday at her residence in Ashley Gardens, Westminster.

Mrs. Charles Hunter was one of hearty and turbulent family of six girs and two boys, the offspring of General J. H. Smyth, a fine old soldier of the Indian Army, and a mother who mingles a little French blood and a French education with her English heritage. One of her sisters is Dame Ethel Smyth, the composer, and Brigadier General R. N. Smyth, D.S.O., is her brother.
She was a lady of remarkable beauty and a famous hostess who possessed in a supreme degree the art of hospitality.

She was specialy a friend of artists, and knew well the most distinguished of them among her contempories, who delighted in her parties at Hill Hall. But her immense circle was not limited to any one type or profession, and she was indeed a great social figure who, in the common phrase, knew and was known by “everyone.”
Her special attraction may be hard to define, but it is certain that people of the most varied callings and natures found irresistible. Her wide interest in literature and the arts, as well as in current affairs, was not peculiar to herself but there was something in the breadth of her sympathies and her personal charm which seemed to set her apart among Englishwomen of her generation. She was often painted, and Rodin made a wonderful bust of her. In memory of her great friend Sargent she presented to the Tate Gallery, through the National Art Collection Fund, his portrait of the three Misses Hunter, painted in 1902.

The funeral will be at St. Michael’s, Theydon Mount, on Monday at 2 o’ clock. There will be a memorial service at St. Mark’s, North Audley Street, at 2.15 the same day.