Background
In 1852 he met the half-Jewish Ellen Medex, daughter of Charles and Miriam Medex.
In 1852 he met the half-Jewish Ellen Medex, daughter of Charles and Miriam Medex.
He took his seat in the House of Lords later the following year. After inheriting the title Henry did not return to the family seat at Lydiard Park but preferred to stay in London. Although the couple never married they masqueraded as Mr, and Mrs, Morgan and for over thirty years lived at various addresses in London and Brighton.
During these years Ellen gave birth to four children, only one of whom, Ellen Rose (b1863), survived.
She was baptized Ellen Rose Street John Morgan. Despite any evidence of a marriage, Ellen was buried at Highgate Cemetery as "Ellen, Viscountess Bolingbroke".
After this Henry moved back to Lydiard Park and after meeting Mary Elizabeth Emily Howard, a young servant girl, he installed her as his housekeeper. The couple had a formal arrangement whilst at Lydiard Park, but during Henry"s absences they met up in Bath and lived there as a couple and were known as Mr. and Mistress
Wilson. In 1882 and 1885 Mary gave birth to two boys, who were kept in Bath under the eye of a nurse/governess.
In 1893, when Mary became pregnant a third time, she prevailed on Henry to marry her, which he did at Bath Registry office in 1893. The child was stillborn, but three years later she gave birth to a boy, who was christened Vernon Henry Street John, the only legitimate heir to the title. Henry Street John died in November 1899.
After the funeral the existence of a wife and heir was revealed, a scandal which was reported in all the British newspapers.
Henry Street John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke Frederick Street John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke George Richard Street John, 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke Henry Street John, 4th Viscount Bolingbroke Henry Street John, 5th Viscount Bolingbroke Vernon Henry Street John, 6th Viscount Bolingbroke.