Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen home

Denys Finch Hatton was born in England, on April 24, 1887, the son of Henry Stormont Finch Hatton, Earl of Winchelsea, and Anne Coddrington (Nan) Finch Hatton, daughter of a former Admiral of the British Fleet. Denys's father had invested in mines in Australia and lived there for a few years, but Denys himself never went there. He was reared at Haverholme, the family estate in Lincolnshire.

The second son and third child, Denys was his mother's favorite and the darling of everyone he met. He was especially popular at Eton, where he impressed his friends with his sense of humor and wit. He excelled in singing, drawing and mimicry; in poetry and story-telling; and in cricket, football (soccer) and golf. (He won three golfing 'Blues' during his university career and captained the university side against Cambridge in his final year.) Still, he was not a dedicated scholar. He entered Brasenose College, Oxford, and finished with a poor Fourth. During this period he shaved his head as a prank, and his hair is said never to have really grown back. He was bald at age 40 (captured in a photo taken on safari in 1927). Despite this he was good-looking, with full lips and the well-defined features of an aristocrat. He was 6 feet three inches tall and had the fair complexion of his mother, a strawberry blond. Many have chronicled his cat-like grace of movement and unusual talent as a hunter.

In 1911, after a trip to South Africa with some relatives, Denys, age 24, traveled to British East Africa (B.E.A.)with money left to him by his deceased uncle. He bought some land there, on the western side of the Rift Valley near what is now Eldoret. He did not farm it, but turned over the investment to a partner, while Denys spent his spare time hunting. He began what would be a life-long pattern of spending fall and winter in Africa and spring and summer in England.

Denys's brother had married Margaretta Drexel, the daughter of an American banker, but Denys himself is not known to have had any romances before he met Karen Blixen (two years older than him) at age 31. The two were first introduced at the Muthaiga Club on the evening of April 5, 1918. Prior to their meeting Denys had received orders for continuing his military service in Egypt. In the early part of the Great War he had been A.D.C. to Major-General Hoskins in East Africa. After his transfer to the Middle East he planned to become a pilot but a foot injury prevented him from taking flying lessons.

Upon his return to Africa after the armistice (November 11, 1918), he developed a strong friendship with Karen Blixen and her husband Bror. He had many friends among the African settlers but, after leaving Africa in 1920, it appears that he did not return to Africa for over a year because of economic conditions. He sold his African farm.

However, in 1922 he returned, and invested in a land development company, Kiptiget, Ltd. His friendship progressed with Karen Blixen, who had separated from her husband. Denys lived in a cottage at the Muthaiga Club when he was not on safari, but after her divorce in 1925 he moved into Karen Blixen's house. Twice, in 1923 and in 1926, Karen Blixen believed she was pregnant with Finch Hatton's child, but she miscarried.

In 1925, Denys took up hunting professionally and began leading safaris for wealthy sportsmen. Among Finch Hatton's clients were Marshall Field III, grandson of the Chicago department store magnate; Frederick B. Patterson, an American vending machine tycoon; and, in 1928 and 1930, the Prince of Wales (later Duke of Windsor).

From the war years when they met in Mesopotamia, Finch Hatton maintained a friendship with Teddy Roosevelt's son, Kermit, but Denys never traveled to the U.S. He is known to have visited countries bordering the route to Africa--Tunisia, Somaliland, and Abyssinia--but never went to India or the Orient.

Denys took up flying lessons in 1929 and in the summer of 1930 bought a Gypsy Moth airplane. In England he crashed into the tops of some trees on his brother's estate and slightly damaged the plane, but he had it repaired before sending it out to Africa by boat. Later he entertained Karen Blixen and many friends in Kenya, including Beryl Markham, with plane rides.

In May 1931 Denys flew to his cottage at the sea near Mombasa for a few days, then returned via Voi (in the region of what is today Tsavo National Park), where he scouted for elephants from the air. With him was his Somali servant, Hamisi.

Shortly after his plane lifted off the ground the next day, May 14, 1931, the plane unexpectedly stalled. In a firey crash both Denys and his servant were killed.

Denys had lived with Karen Blixen until a few weeks before this final flight, and his remains were turned over to her. She buried him in the Ngong Hills, where he had said he'd like to be buried. Later it was rumored that lions frequently sunned themselves on the grave. An obelisk was erected at the site which you can still see today.

The role of Denys Finch Hatton was played by Robert Redford in the 1985 Academy Award-winning film based on Karen Blixen's memoir Out of Africa.

From The Eton College Chronicle, May 21, 1931:

Denys Finch Hatton was: "At Mr. Tathma's House, 1900-6. Eton Eleven. Keeper of the Field. Keeper of the wall. President of 'Pop.' Secretary of the Musical Society.
Did the sun always shine at Eton in those days? Or was it only that, when Denys was there, it seemed to shine? Anyway, that is how one always sees him--in full sunshine, crossing the street to the wall, with his peculiar slouching, rolling gait, half gamin and half seraph. His hat is tilted back, forehead quizzically wrinkled, eyebrows raised, eyes dancing with amusement, and his queer, wide flexible mouth curling at the corners in that enchanting smile!...those long limbs, those superb good looks...his real Eton life was in his friends, his mock antipathies, his laughter and his jokes, his catchwords ("not a fool at all of course") and his escapades...And underneath it all, one always knew there was something fine and spacious. How else could he have dominated the School as few boys can ever have dominated it, before or since? Nor was there any need to go deep to discover his love of beauty, or his reverence for heroes. Music and poetry touched him dearly; he hankered after literary excellence...recklessnesses and buccaneerings always stopped short of doing any living creature hurt."--Ed.

SOURCES: 1.) Out of Isak Dinesen (1998) by Linda G. Donelson 2.) The Eton Chronicle (1931) 3.) Silence Will Speak (1977) by Errol Trzebinski

LINKS:
• Further references
  
• Denys Finch Hatton and Rose Cartwright
  
• Denys's athletic achievements at Brasenose College, Oxford
• Photo of Denys Finch Hatton with elephant tusks
• London Times Obituary
• Denys Finch Hatton's boyhood home
• Denys Finch Hatton's favorite constellations
• Photos of Denys Finch Hatton's grave