Terence Skeffington-Smyth
Terence George Randall Skeffington-Smyth (31 May 1905 – 9 March 1936) was part of the Bright Young Things, a famous social group in 1920s London. He was a close friend of Elvira Mullens Barney, who was the main witness at her trial.
He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Henry Julian Skeffington-Smyth and Violet Frances Monckton-Arundell. Violet was the daughter of George Monckton-Arundell, 7th Viscount Galway, and Vere Gosling. Terence had two brothers: Captain Noel Edward Vere Fitz-Patrick (born 1908) and Denys Bryan (born 1911).
Terence’s grandfather was Randall Skeffington Smyth, and his grandmother was the Hon. Gertrude Fitz-Patrick, daughter of the 1st Lord Castletown. After Bernard FitzPatrick, 2nd Baron Castletown, died, Terence’s father changed his name to Fitz-Patrick by deed poll.
Terence did not work for a living and lived off his inheritance from his mother. He spent time in England and the French Riviera. In London, he lived at 19 Orchard Street near Selfridges and often stayed at the International Sports Club in Upper Grosvenor Street.
He met Elvira Mullens Barney in August 1931 and later said she was a very good friend. He hosted a cocktail party on 26 June 1932, and many invitations to Barney’s dinner on 30 May were given that night, so Barney’s guests knew Skeffington-Smyth well. He was not at the dinner because he was in Paris, but he joined the group at The Blue Angel and then went with Arthur Jeffress to his home.
After Barney shot Michael Scott Stephen, she called Terence and asked him to come over, but he said he could not go.
On 19 December 1934, at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, he married Isobel McLean, the eldest daughter of Loudon McLean.
Terence Skeffington-Smyth died during a world cruise on 9 March 1936. He was staying at the Broadway Mansions Hotel in Shanghai, and The Straits Times reported he died after visiting an opium den.
The Monckton-Arundell family papers at Nottingham University Library include a poem by Terence Skeffington Smyth.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:44 (CET).