Social Victorians/People/Morley

Also Known As

 * Family name: Morley

Organizations

 * Liberal party
 * Member of Parliament, House of Commons

Timeline
1897 July 2, Mr. Arnold Morley attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

1911 June 30, Rt. Hon. Arnold Morley and Elsie Waite Touzalin married, her second marriage.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball
At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Rt. Hon. Arnold Morley (at 351) was dressed as a Gentilhomme de la Cour Louis XV in the Quadrille of the Louis XV. and Louis XVI. According to the Guernsey Star, "Mr. Arnold Morley took the part of a nobleman of the time of Louis XV."

Lafayette's portrait of "Arnold Morley as the Duc de Choiseul" in costume is photogravure #92 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Mr. Arnold Morley, M.P. as the Duc de Choiseul."

Especially if the newspapers are accurate about Louise XV, Morley seems likely to be dressed as Étienne François, Marquis de Stainville, Duc de Choiseul (28 June 1719 – 8 May 1785), who was awarded the Ordre du Saint-Esprit and the Order of the Golden Fleece ; in Lafayette's portrait, he is wearing the badge of the Order du Saint-Esprit, or Order of the Holy Spirit. The portrait by van Loo and his workshop of the Duc de Choiseul is not the original of the costume Morley wore to the ball, most likely, but it does show him wearing the Ordre du Saint-Esprit and similar clothing.

Demographics

 * Nationality: British

Family

 * Rt. Hon. Arnold Morley (18 February 1849 – 16 January 1916)
 * Elsie Waite Touzalin ( – 3 October 1912)

Questions and Notes

 * 1) His Wikipedia article says he died unmarried. The information about his wedding and wife come from The Peerage.