David Lean

Date of Birth: 25 March, 1908

Place of Birth: Croydon, Surrey, England, U.K.

Date of Death: 16 April, 1991

Place of Death: Limehouse, London, England, U.K.

Ethnicity: English, Cornish

Sir David Lean, CBE was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor. He twice won the Academy Award for Best Director, for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He also directed the films This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit (1945), Brief Encounter, Great Expectations (1946), Oliver Twist (1948), The Passionate Friends, Madeleine (1950), The Sound Barrier, Hobson’s Choice, Summertime (1955), Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter, the documentary Lost and Found: The Story of Cook’s Anchor, and A Passage to India, and co-directed the film In Which We Serve. He also wrote his A Passage to India, and co-wrote his This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, The Passionate Friends, Hobson’s Choice, Summertime, and Lost and Found.

He was the son of Helena Annie and Francis William le Blount Lean. His brother was author Tangye Lean (Edward Tangye Lean), who was the original founder of the Inklings literary club at Oxford. His family were Quakers. David was married to art dealer and author Sandra Cooke, until his death. He had a son with his former wife Isabel Lean. Isabel was his first cousin.

David’s paternal grandfather was William Scarnell Lean (the son of William Lean and Hannah Scarnell). David’s grandfather William was born in Aston, Warwickshire, England. David’s great-grandfather William was born in Neath Abbey, Glamorgan, Wales, the son of Joel Lean, who was from Gwennap, Cornwall, and of Sophia Wylde/Wyld, who was from Broseley, Shropshire, England. Hannah was born in Norwich, Norfolk, the daughter of John Scarnell and Hannah.

David’s paternal grandmother was Marianna Bevan (the daughter of Thomas Bevan and Harriet Marshall). Marianna was born in London, England.

David’s maternal grandfather was Edward Tangye (the son of Joseph Tangye and Ann Bullock). Edward was born in Illogan, Cornwall, England. His brother, David’s great-uncle, was Sir Richard Trevithick Tangye, a prominent manufacturer of engines and other heavy equipment. Wikipedia. Joseph was the son of John Tangye and Alice Ivey. Ann was the daughter of Edmund Bullock and Jemima Blight.

David’s maternal grandmother was Ann Cowlin (the daughter of William Cowlin and Eleanor Bullock). Ann was born in Illogan, Cornwall, England. Eleanor was the daughter of Ann Cowlin.

Sources: https://www.npg.org.uk

Genealogies of David Lean – https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.geni.com

David Lean on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org