Post by Clan Borthwick

Hughes Pakenhaum Borthwick bought the Island of Isla del Fraile in 1904. He made his home in ancient Roman ruins, posing as a British aristocrat while actually operating as a high level spy within British intelligence during the early stages of WWI. He controlled covert operations in the Almeria province while spying on German submarines. ⁣ ⁣ Described by Ashley Cowie (article link below) as a “super spy,” in his later years in life he also went on to gain additional notoriety in discovering a lost portrait of Archbishop Fernando de Valdés by Diego Velázquez, a masterpiece now on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.⁣ ⁣ Frank Hughes Pakenhaum Borthwick of Southwick Park and Borthwick Hall, Midlothlian, was born 23 July 1877, son of Lt.-Col. Alexander Borthwick & Katherine Thistlethwayte, married Eva Sardinia Burrows 5 January, added the surname Norton in 1944, and died 5 October 1950. ⁣ ⁣ Among many other things, he is also remembered as having love of dogs and to sleep with a revolver under his pillow. ⁣ ⁣ Picture of newspaper article by provided by David Borthwick; article and corresponding pictures are from The Times article by Isambard Wilkinson.⁣ ⁣ Hugh Borthwick Article by Ashley Cowie: https://lnkd.in/e6CFFWCt