Desmond Parsons

Hon. Desmond Edward Parsons (13 December 1910 – 4 July 1937) was a British aristocrat, amateur sinologist, and aesthete, regarded as "one of the most magnetic men of his generation." He had a passionate friendship with James Lees-Milne, was the one true love of Harold Acton and the unrequited love of Robert Byron.

Early life Desmond Edward Parsons was born on 13 December 1910, the third child of William Parsons, 5th Earl of Rosse and Frances Lois Lister-Kaye (1882–1984), and the younger brother of Michael Parsons, 6th Earl of Rosse. Parsons entered Oxford University and then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

In China Parsons visited the caves at Dun Huang. He removed a wall painting using tools and was caught when he tried to carry it away in his vehicle. He was released after the British government intervened. His photographs of the place were later acquired by the Courtauld Institute of Art. His brother, who was visiting him, managed to bring back Parsons to Europe where he died on 4 July 1937. honoured him with an obituary noting his "unusual capacity for observation" and "fine scholarly instinct" as well as "charming personality and transparent honesty of purpose".