Markham, Beryl, 1902-1986

Beryl Markham (born Clutterbuck; 26 October 1902 – 3 August 1986) born in Ashwell, England. At four years old, she moved with her father to Kenya, which was then colonial British East Africa; he built a horse racing farm in Njoro. Markham was married three times, taking the name Markham from her second husband, the wealthy Mansfield Markham, with whom she had a son, Gervase. In 1928, while pregnant with Gervase, she entered into an affair with Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.

Returning to England, Harry installed Beryl as his mistress in the Grosvenor House Hotel, a few minutes' walk from Buckingham Palace. Beryl also had an affair with Hubert Broad, who was later named by Mansfield Markham as a co-respondent in his 1937 divorce from Markham. After her Atlantic crossing, she returned to be with Broad, who was also an influence in her flying career. Inspired and coached by Tom Campbell Black, Markham learned to fly.

In 1936, Markham made a solo flight across the Atlantic, from England to North America. She became the first person to make it from England to North America non-stop from east to west, and was celebrated as an aviation pioneer. After living for many years in the United States, Markham moved back to Kenya in 1952.