11 Facts About Haldane MacFall

Haldane MacFall was a British Army officer who became an authoritative art critic, the author of several works of art history, an essayist and a novelist.

Haldane MacFall illustrated many of his own works, as well as bookplates and cover art for others, and exhibited at the Royal Academy.

Haldane MacFall's father, David Chambers McFall was an army surgeon attached to the Indian border regiment.

Haldane MacFall graduated from Sandhurst as a Second Lieutenant and in 1885 joined the West India Regiment in Jamaica.

Haldane MacFall had left Haldane's father, and their son David, in 1890, after an unhappy marriage and was successfully pursuing her own writing career.

Haldane MacFall set his first novel The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer in Jamaica and, unusually for the time, it had a West Indian hero.

Haldane MacFall's next novel, The Masterfolk, was a witty portrait of bohemian life in London and Paris in the 1890s.

Haldane MacFall continued to write for periodicals, combining his interest in art with critiques of exhibitions; writings which are said to have drawn the attention of Whistler.

Haldane MacFall was 54 years old at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, but he returned to the army and, although he was not sent to the front, he proved to be an efficient officer and was promoted rapidly to end the war with the rank of Major.

Haldane MacFall's final work was a spirited defence of his friend Aubrey Beardsley, published in 1928, the year of his death.

Haldane MacFall is buried with his wife Mabel on the eastern side of Highgate Cemetery.