Request for Question Clarification by
answerfinder-ga
on
25 Sep 2006 02:54 PDT
Bryan,
Hardened, grim-faced, internet detectives today raided a number of
websites across the globe to identify the wife of José Cochrane de
Alencar and as to whether she was the mysterious Lady X. The result of
this in-depth inquiry, a spokesman said, was, er... ?I don?t know?.
José Cochrane de Alencar was a Brazilian diplomat who spent some of
his youth and diplomatic career in Britain. I have been unable to
identify the name of his wife. She appears to have been present when
he was on his first secondment to the Brazilian Embassy in London
(1937 - 1944); and on his second secondment as ambassador (1961-1963).
Whether it is the same wife I am unable to say as she is only referred
to as Senhora or Madame Cochrane de Alencar. Infuriatingly, no first
name or initial is shown.
Approaching it from a different direction, I have detailed below all
the divorces reported in Times in 1945 involving a ?Lady? (I am
surprised at the number.) These may assist at a later stage.
José Cochrane de Alencar biography.
-----------------------------------------------
Freddy?s link to a genealogy site on the Alencar name appears to be
the biography for our man. The computer translation is as below. Note
there is also a mention of Prague. It seems strange that it stops at
1930, but I think that the author of the website was quoting from an
old source document.
Jose Cochrane de Alencar [19.11.1898, Berlin, Germany -], Diplomat,
bachelor in law for the University of London. Nominated, for
competition, According to Secretary, for Decree of 25.07.1923;
assigned for Oslo [1923]. ] Served of Person in charge
business-oriented in Oslo [1927. It served as Attaché to the
President, elect, of the United States of the North America, Herbert
Hoover, for occasion of its visit to Brazil, in 1928. ] Served of
Person in charge business-oriented in Plague [1929. Nominated to be
part of the Comitiva of President Júlio Prestes, for occasion of its
visit to the United States of America [1930].
José Cochrane de Alencar [19.11.1898, Berlim, Alemanha -], Diplomata,
bacharel em Direito pela Universidade de Londres. Nomeado, por
concurso, Segundo Secretário, por Decreto de 25.07.1923; designado
para Oslo [1923]. Serviu de Encarregado de Negócios em Oslo [1927].
Serviu como Adido ao Presidente, eleito, dos Estados Unidos da América
do Norte, Herbert Hoover, por ocasião de sua visita ao Brasil, em
1928. Serviu de Encarregado de Negócios em Praga [1929]. Nomeado para
fazer parte da Comitiva do Presidente Júlio Prestes, por ocasião de
sua visita aos Estados Unidos da América [1930].
http://www.geocities.com/de_alencar/destaque.htm
Some of the above information can be confirmed by the purchase of
these articles from the New York Times if required.
W.R. HEARSTS HOSTS TO DR. JULIO PRESTES
New York Times (1857-Current file); Jun 20, 1930; pg. 20, 1
Prestes Party Returns Tomorrow.
New York Times (1857-Current file); Jun 14, 1930; pg. 4, 1
HOOVER FOR NATION WELCOMES PRESTES
Special to The New York Times.; New York Times (1857; Jun 13, 1930;
PRESTES ACCLAIMED BY CITY AND NATION
Times Wide World Photo.; New York Times; Jun 12, 1930; pg. 21, 1
Use these search terns to access the documents.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nytimes/results.html?st=advanced&QryTxt=Jose+de+alencar&x=0&y=0&By=&Title=&datetype=0&frommonth=09&fromday=01&fromyear=1851&tomonth=12&today=31&toyear=1980&restrict=articles&sortby=REVERSE_CHRON
All the following are from the Times newspaper unless otherwise stated.
July 1 and 4, 1930. Visit of President of Brazil to London. Second
secretary, José Cochrane de Alencar.
Brazilian Ministry of External Relations
Consular heads of Diplomatical Missions and Distributions in Latin
American Countries
07.12.1935
Columbia
Person in charge business-oriented (translated)
José Cochrane de Alencar biography.
http://www.mre.gov.br/portugues/ministerio/sitios_secretaria/cdo/radia.xls
The ministry have an archive section which could be a source of email help .
Esplanada dos Ministérios
Anexo II, 1º subsolo, sala 10
Brasília ? DF
CEP 70.170-900
Telefones: 61-3411-9037 / 9277
Fax: 61-3411-6591
E-mail: cdo@mre.gov.br
http://www.mre.gov.br/portugues/ministerio/sitios_secretaria/cdo/cdo.asp
May 7 1937 until 1944. Numerous references in the Court and Society
pages to attending the court of St. James' luncheons, Brazilian
Embassy functions. These include the following references to his wife.
Jan 8, 1938. Luncheon at Brazilian Embassy
M. and Madame Cochrane de Alencar
June 29, 1938. Mrs Chamberlain at home.
M and Madame Cochrane de Alencar
On March 26, 1942, at a Luncheon at Brazilian Embassy, he was
accompanied by a Miss Sylvia Duggan. I researched this name and there
are several later references to her. She appears to be Catholic and
had strong connection with various South American embassies and their
staff. She was still referred to as Miss Sylvia Duggan in December
1962.
June 18, 1942, described as in charge of commercial matters at the embassy.
January 19, 1944, described as head of economic and commercial
division at the Brazilian Embassy.
August 31, 1944, Savoy Hotel luncheon for the impending departure of
Dr J C de Alencar, First Secretary and Vice-President of the Brazilian
Chamber of Commerce and Economic Affairs.
This National Archive document may be relevant for his time in London.
Piece details: FO 372/3738
Senor Alencar - mother's position on Sheriff?s List
1943
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=3194897&CATLN=6&Highlight=&FullDetails=False
He next appears in India (1949? - 1958?). This National Archive
document may be relevant.
FO 371/74558
Complaint by Sr Alencar, Brazilian Minister in Delhi, that he believes
the British Government regard him as anti-British
1949
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=3583182&j=1
Complaint by Sir Alencar, Brazilian Minister in Delhi, about how he
perceives the British Government regard him
This file concerns details a Brazilian Diplomat who professed to be an
anglophile having schooled at St. Paul's for 7 years and spent a
further 7 years at the Brazilian Embassy (1937-1944). Concerned that
he may have been regarded anti-British after telling a Board of Trade
official that Germans paid more attention to visitors from Brazil, and
the British had only themselves to blame for some Brazilians returning
to their country pro-German. Official correspondence showed that the
diplomat was held in a very low regard.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/releases/2004/august20/list.htm
Sir Kenneth Bailey photograph collection. (Australia)
Afghan National Day reception at the Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi on 27th May, 1958
The Apostolic Internuncio (The Most Reverend James R. Knox) ; and the
Brazilian Ambassador, Dr Jose Cochrane de Alencar"
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23234778
He later returned to London as ambassador until his retirement.
October 28, 1961. Appointed ambassador Court of St. James'. Present:
Madame de Alencar.
There then follows numerous social and business engagements attended
by Ambassador and Madame Cochrane de Alencar .
November 07, 1963. Farewell reception from his retirement from the
diplomatic corps. Ambassador and Madame Cochrane de Alencar.
November 09, 1963. Madame Cochrane de Alencar attended as her husband
relinquished his appointment as ambassador to the Court of St. James'.
There are no further references to him.
1945 divorces reported in the Times
---------------------------------------------
January 27, 1945
Lady Grimthorpe formerly Mary Alice Archdale
February 15, 1945
Lady (Maria Teresa Diaz Salas) Clark Kerr
February 21, 1945
Lady Honor Dorothy Mary Channon, nee Guinness
March 06, 1945
Lady Peirse (formerly Miss Joyce Ledgard)
March 07, 1945
Lady Anne Hunloke nee Cavendish
March 07, 1945
Lady Bruntisfield (formerly Miss Dorothy Etta Rawson)
April 12, 1945
Lady (Mary Aline) Swinfen
June 02, 1945
Viscountess Bridport (also referred to as Lady Bridport)
June 23, 1945
Lady (Elizabeth Sarah) Grenfell
July 07, 1945
Lady (Barbara Judith) Rothschild
October 13, 1945
Lady Howard of Effingham formerly Miss Maria Malvin Gertler.
Regarding the last one. Did you not ask a question the other day about
Howard of Effingham?
Once you?ve waded through this lot, do ask for any clarifications
questions you may have.
answerfinder-ga
