30 Facts About Conrad O'Brien-ffrench

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was an accomplished artist, linguist, mountaineer, skier and author.

Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench was born in London, England, the second son of Henry Albert De Vreque O'Brien-ffrench, 1st Marquis de Castelthomond, and his wife Winifred nee Thursby, heiress and daughter of Major James Legh Thursby, of Ormerod House Lancashire.

When he was 16, Conrad O'Brien-ffrench's life took an abrupt turn when Rollo died in an accident playing football.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench left school at this time to study farming in the Evesham Valley, and while there he met a Justice of the Peace from Buffalo Lake Ranch in Saskatchewan, who told him of life on the wild frontier and of the Royal North-West Mounted Police.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was later posted to Willow Creek and then Battle Creek, but mid-1912 received word that his mother was dying from cancer.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench purchased his release and returned to Esher in Surrey to be by her side.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was held first at Torgau, a Bismarckian fortress, and then at Burg de Magdeburg POW camp.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was posted to the British Legation in Stockholm as assistant military attache under the command of Major Dymoke Scale.

In 1920, Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was assigned to escort Russian diplomat Leonid Krasin through countries hostile to the new Communist government to meet with Prime Minister Lloyd George in London for secret talks about the restoration of trade with the West.

The initial discussion that Conrad O'Brien-ffrench witnessed was now a reality: Gandhi had been arrested, tried and jailed, but the results were not as the British intended.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench experienced firsthand the transformative influence of one man as he peacefully expressed true character, and soon the control of the British Raj gave way to India's leadership.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench led the team to safety, and ultimately to the summit.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench explored the Himalayas, Austrian Alps and other ranges, meeting Sir Francis Younghusband, Frank Smythe, Sir John Hunt and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench worked out of his studio in the Parc Monsouri district and gained an increasing reputation for his portraits.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench had exhibitions in galleries and museums in Europe, Jamaica, Canada and the United States, including the following:.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench taught art at the Banff School of Fine Arts, Banff, Alberta, from 1948; from 1955 he was president of Rim Rock School of Fine Art, Loveland, Colorado; and, from 1975, vice president of Water Wheel Gallery, Estes Park, Colorado.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench remarried on 1 May 1945, in London, England, to Rosalie Isabelle Baker, daughter of Ralph George Baker.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench had become a friend of Stewart Menzies, who later was named head of the British Secret Service.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench persuaded O'Brien-ffrench to rejoin the Secret Service, and provided him with the cover of businessman.

The newly formed Secret Intelligence Service network "Z" was taking shape under a variety of business covers, and Conrad O'Brien-ffrench established Tyrolese Tours offering package tours to Austria and Southern Germany.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench based himself in Kitzbuhel and proceeded to establish a spy network stretching from Austria deep into Southern Germany.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was in attendance to Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, who used Kitzbuhel as their first home after the abdication crisis of 1936.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench provided intelligence on Nazi occultism and the build up of German forces in preparation for World War II.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench was told that this was the first news received from Allied capitals reporting the advance.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench continued to receive confirmations of the advance throughout the day.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench married Rosalie Isabelle Baker, daughter of Ralph George Baker, on 1 May 1945, in London, England.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench designed and helped to build a large 14-room lodge and a cottage at Fairholme, where he and Rosie raised their sons, Rollo and John.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench settled down to a new life of raising horses and teaching at The Banff School of Fine Arts.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench lived in West Vancouver and eventually retired to his chalet in Loveland, Colorado.

Conrad O'Brien-ffrench taught and exhibited art, living out his years painting and lecturing art, philosophy and theology.