Fact Check: The Origin of Henry Salt’s Christian Names
Claim:
In Salt and His Circle (p. 20), Stephen Winsten asserts:
“When Henry was born it was the soldier father who insisted on Shakespear as a suitable and inspiring Christian name. The other two names were selected by the mother, one after the founder of the Protestant religion in this country and the other after her favourite saint. She would never admit that the Henry of her son had any connection with that of her husband, for he also was Henry.”
Verdict:
Partially inaccurate. While the origin of the middle name “Shakespear” is likely correct, the claims regarding “Stephens” and “Henry” are contradicted by Henry Salt’s own account and lack supporting evidence.
Analysis
- Middle Name: Shakespear
- It is widely accepted and undisputed that Salt’s father, a soldier and admirer of Shakespeare, chose “Shakespear” as an homage to the playwright.
- This element of Winsten’s claim aligns with historical context and is not contested.
- Middle Name: Stephens
- Winsten’s suggestion that “Stephens” was chosen by Salt’s mother, inspired by her favourite saint, is disproved by Salt’s autobiography Company I Have Kept (p. 22).
- Salt directly attributes his middle name “Stephens” to his godfather, stating:
“… with a godfather, Mr. Stephens, I fared no better… all I eventually got from him was his name Stephens.”
- First Name: Henry
- Winsten claims that Salt’s mother named him after Henry VIII, founder of the Church of England, and deliberately denied any connection to her husband, also named Henry.
- There is no evidence to support this assertion, and Henry Salt himself never referenced such an origin for his name.
- Additionally, there is no indication of significant familial discord at the time of Salt’s christening; his parents later had another child.
- Lack of References in Winsten’s Work
- As with many of his assertions in Salt and His Circle, Winsten provides no references or supporting evidence for his claims.
- This pattern undermines the reliability of his account, particularly when contradicted by Salt’s own writings.
Conclusion
The origin of Henry Salt’s middle name “Shakespear” is well-supported and attributed to his father’s admiration for Shakespeare. However, Stephen Winsten’s claims regarding the names “Stephens” and “Henry” are contradicted by primary sources, including Salt’s own autobiography. Winsten’s narrative appears speculative and is not grounded in verified evidence, rendering much of it implausible.
