Background
Fortescue was the son of United States. Congressman Robert Roosevelt (1829–1906), who was the brother of Theodore Roosevelt, Senior, the uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt and the great-uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Fortescue was the son of United States. Congressman Robert Roosevelt (1829–1906), who was the brother of Theodore Roosevelt, Senior, the uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt and the great-uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt.
He completed his education when he graduated from the Army Staff College in 1904.
He wrote for the London Daily Telegraph during World War I and during the Spanish Civil War. He then adopted the three children conceived before the marriage, Granville, Kenyon, and Maud. Fortescue"s undergraduate education began at Yale College.
Then he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania.
His college years were cut short when he volunteered in 1898 for the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry. In 1910, Captain "Rolly" Fortescue married Grace Hubbard Fortescue (née Grace Hubbard Bell) (1883–1979), a niece of the inventor Alexander Graham Bell and an heir to the Bell Telephone Company fortune.
The wedding party included Captain Archibald Butt, who served with the groom in the White House as a Presidential aide. The couple had three daughters.
Another daughter took the stage name of Helene Whitney (1914–1990) as an actress.
Fortescue was a Rough Rider wounded at San Juan Hill in Cuba and serving in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War. Fortescue was posted as a United States. military attaché in Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. Along with other Western military attachés, he had two complementary missions—to assist the Japanese and to observe the Japanese forces in the field during the Russo-Japanese War.
Service as an artillery officer during World War I was the capstone of Fortescue"s military career.
Captain Fortescue"s final resting place is in Arlington National Cemetery, the only Roosevelt to be buried there. Selected work P. Honors.
Served as military aide to President Roosevelt at White House. Clubs: Army and Navy (Washington, District of Columbia).
Married Grace Hubbatd Bell, June 4, 1910. Children: Thalia, Marion, Helene.