Plantagenet Somerset Fry

Plantagenet Somerset Fry, born Peter George Robin Fry, sometimes used the names 'Peter George Robin Somerset Fry' and 'Peter George Robin Plantagenet Somerset Fry' (3 January 1931 – 10 September 1996), was a British historian and author of more than 50 books. In his youth, he added Somerset to his surname by deed poll, the Fry family originating from Wells in that county, and Plantagenet was a nickname which he adopted at university, relating to his advocacy of Richard III. He was educated at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, then Lancing College in West Sussex, and St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London, but did not do well at either of the latter two institutions.

After failing his exams, he had to leave St. Thomas's after a year. From this point on his father refused to subsidise him any more, so Fry found employment as a librarian and projectionist with the National Film Board of Canada. In 1952 he inherited some money from his grandmother, left his job and married, against his parents' wishes, Audrey Russell whom he had known at medical school. After spending all his money, and failing another degree, Fry became a schoolteacher at Wallop School in Weybridge, Surrey. Needing more money, he twice took part in the television game show Double Your Money, and won the jackpot of £512, However, she was soon diagnosed with an incurable form of kidney cancer, although Fry never let her know it. After her death in 1961, he set up a medical research trust in her memory.

He then married Mrs Leri Butler (née Llywelyn-Jones), a divorcée (previously married to Pierce Alan Somerset David Butler, son of the 7th Earl of Carrick ); she was 24 years his senior. The marriage ended in divorce in 1973.

The following year he married Fiona Whitcombe, who survived him.

He was the victim of several car crashes, one of which made him reliant on the use of a wheelchair for many years.

Death In 1996, Fry was told he was dying of bowel cancer, but he refused treatment, and suffocated himself with a plastic bag at his home in Wattisfield, Suffolk at the age of 65, after writing a letter explaining his actions to the coroner.

Selected works

Kings and Queens of England and Scotland Castles: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland The History of Scotland The Roman World, 200 B.C.-A.D. 300 1000 Great Lives The Tower of London: Cauldron of Britain's Past The Zebra Book of Famous Women Roman Britain