Profile Text
Birth Name: Philip St. John Basil Rathbone
Date of Birth: 13 June, 1892
Place of Birth: Johannesburg, South African Republic
Date of Death: 21 July, 1967
Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, smaller amounts of Irish and Scottish
Basil Rathbone was a British actor. He was known for starring as Sherlock Holmes in many films.
His father, Edgar Philip Rathbone, was English, from Liverpool, Lancashire. His mother, Anna Barbara (George), was born in Grahamstown, South Africa. Basil was married to American writer Ouida Bergère, until his death. He had a son with his former wife, actress Ethel Marion Foreman; and a daughter with Ouida.
Basil’s paternal grandfather was Philip Henry Rathbone (the son of William Rathbone V and Elizabeth Greg). Philip was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. William was born in Liverpool, the son of William Rathbone IV and Hannah Mary Reynolds. Basil’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was born in Manchester, Lancashire, the daughter of Samuel “Styal Mill” Greg, who was from Belfast, Ireland; and of Hannah Lightbody, whose father was from Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
Basil’s paternal grandmother was Jane Stringer Steward (the daughter of James Steward and Alice Lacell). Jane was born in Liverpool, Lancashire. James was born in Blackwall, Essex, the son of John Clark Steward and Elizabeth Walton/Walter. Alice was born in Kent, the daughter of John Lacell and Sarah Firman.
Basil’s maternal grandfather was John William George (the son of John George and Mary Higgs). Basil’s grandfather John was born in London, England. Basil’s great-grandfather John was born in Sevenoaks, Kent, the son of John George and Sarah. Mary was born in Lambeth, Surrey, the daughter of William Higgs and Elizabeth Pike.
Basil’s maternal grandmother was named Ann Quinn (the daughter of Philip Quinn). Ann was born in Cape Town, Cape Colony.
Sources: Genealogies of Basil Rathbone – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Basil Rathbone (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com