author
Ernest Gambier-Parry
1853–1936
Remembered as a soldier, painter, musician, and writer, this English country-house figure brought a wide range of experience to his books. His life stretched from Victorian military service in Sudan to later years at Highnam Court, where he pursued art and letters.
1 Audiobook
'Murphy': A Message to Dog Lovers
by Ernest Gambier-Parry
About the author
Born at Highnam Court in Gloucestershire on 25 October 1853, Ernest Gambier-Parry was the son of the artist and collector Thomas Gambier Parry. He was educated at Eton, served in the British Army, and took part in the Nile Expedition of 1884–85, where he was wounded badly enough to bring his military career to an early end.
After leaving active service, he built a varied life as an author, artist, and musician. He wrote books including a biography of General Sir Reynell Taylor and later works drawn from his own experiences, while also exhibiting paintings and remaining active in cultured and charitable life around Highnam. He succeeded to the family estate after the death of his half-brother, the composer Sir Hubert Parry, in 1918.
Gambier-Parry died at Highnam Court on 15 April 1936. He is an appealing figure for readers because his writing came from a life that moved between public service, travel, art, and the quieter routines of an English estate.