William Lehman Ashmead Burdett Coutts-Bartlett , By royal license took the name of Burdett-Coutts. BARTLETT, William Lehlnan Ashmead Burdett-Coutts, born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1851. He is the son of Ellis Bartlett. an American merchant. In 1861, shortly after his father's death, he removed to England, where he was educated. He studied first at Uppingham school, and then entered Keble College, Oxford, in 1870, where he held a scholarship, subsequently graduating at Christ Church, after which he studied law. During his College life he became acquainted with the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, to whom he afterward became private secretary, and during the Turko-Russian war of 1877-'8 he acted as her almoner in connection with the "Turkish Compassionate Fund." He has also had some journalistic experience, and at one time was connected with a weekly paper called "England." On his return from the east he published a book on the Turko-Russian war. Later he assisted the Baroness Coutts in the distributing of her charities in Ireland, and on 12 February 1881, tie married her. This event caused much comment, not only from the fact that the bride was thirty-seven years older than the groom, but by her act it was understood that she relinquished a large portion of the wealth she had inherited until she should marry or die. Subsequent to the marriage he became a member of parliament, and in 1886 was reelected as a conservative by an increased majority, and by royal license assumed the name of Burdett-Coutts.*His brother, Ellis Ashmead, born in Philadelphia, was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he distinguished himself as a scholar. He also became known as a famous athlete, and represented his College in the contests against Cambridge. Later he became a member of parliament from Eye, and in 1886 was re-elected to parliament as a conservative, and appointed to office in the admiralty under the Salisbury government.
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