Hume Cronyn

Hume Blake Cronyn, Jr., OC (July 18, 1911 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian-American actor of stage and screen, who enjoyed a long career, often appearing professionally alongside Jessica Tandy, his wife for over fifty years.

Early life

Cronyn, one of five children, was born in London, Ontario, Canada. His father, Hume Blake Cronyn, Sr., was a businessman and a Member of Parliament for London (after whom the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory at the University of Western Ontario and asteroid (12050) Humecronyn are named). His mother, Frances Amelia (née Labatt), was an heiress of the brewing company of the same name. His paternal grandfather, Verschoyle Cronyn, was the son of the Right Reverend Benjamin Cronyn, an Anglican cleric of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy, who served as first bishop of the Anglican diocese of Huron and founded Huron College, from which grew the University of Western Ontario. His great-uncle, Benjamin, Jr., was both a prominent citizen and early mayor of London, Ontario, but was later indicted for fraud and fled to Vermont; during his tenure in London he built a mansion called Oakwood, which currently serves as the head office of the Info-Tech Research Group. Cronyn was also a cousin of Canadian-born theater producer, Robert Whitehead, and a first cousin of the Canadian-British artist Hugh Verschoyle Cronyn GM (1905–1996).

Hume Cronyn (politician)

Hume Blake Cronyn (August 28, 1864 – June 19, 1933) was a Canadian politician and lawyer.

Born in London, Canada West, the son of Verschoyle Cronyn (who was the son of Benjamin Cronyn) and Sophia Eliza Blake (who was the daughter of William Hume Blake), Cronyn was educated at Dr. Tassie's grammar school in Galt, Ontario and at the University of Toronto where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1889. He was called to the Ontario bar in 1889 and practised law in London. In 1907 he was appointed general manager of The Huron and Erie Mortgage Corporation. He was also a General Manager of the Canada Trust Company and a Director of the Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada.

While at the University of Toronto he enlisted in The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and served during the North-West Rebellion of 1885 and fought in the Battle of Cut Knife. Afterwards he joined the 7th Fusiliers, and served as Major from 1899 to 1907.

He was elected to the House of Commons as a Unionist in the riding of London in the 1917 election.