Rosalie Dorothea Buckingham Selfridge de Bolotoff was at the center of several fascinating worlds. She was born into Chicago affluence, raised by ambitious merchants and stylish society, became the daughter of a prominent London store, and married a controversial aviation experimenter who claimed a Russian regal identity.
Rosalie stayed out of the spotlight. She did not develop a business empire like her father, Harry Gordon Selfridge. She did not pursue big engineering projects like her spouse Serge de Bolotoff. Instead, she recounts family, luxury, marriage, financial insecurity, and silent fortitude.
A Chicago Childhood in the Buckingham Selfridge Family
Rosalie was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 10 September 1893. She was the eldest surviving child of Harry Gordon Selfridge and Rosalie Amelia Buckingham Selfridge, usually known as Rose.
Her father was born in Wisconsin in 1858 and worked in Chicago. Before starting a new department store, he worked for Marshall Field, a major US retailer. Her mother was from the Buckingham family, which owned banks, grain warehouses, and properties.
The Selfridges liked Chicago’s affluence. The family owned Harrose Hall, a Lake Geneva mansion where the kids could escape city hubbub. Grand mansions, prominent connections, servants, travel, and the expectations of daughters of wealthy families influenced Rosalie’s childhood.
Harry and Rose married in 1890. Their first child, Chandler Selfridge, died in infancy in 1891. Rosalie was born two years later, followed by three more surviving children:
| Family member | Approximate dates | Later life |
|---|---|---|
| Rosalie Dorothea Selfridge | 1893 to 1977 | Married Serge de Bolotoff |
| Violette Buckingham Selfridge | 1897 to the late twentieth century | Married Jacques Jean de Sibour and later became associated with Bedford |
| Harry Gordon Selfridge Junior | 1900 to 1976 | Worked in American retail and married Charlotte Elsie Dennis |
| Beatrice Buckingham Selfridge | 1901 or 1902 to 1990 | Married Louis de Sibour and later Frank Lewis |
The family’s early prosperity seemed secure, but its foundations were more vulnerable than they appeared.
The Move to London and the Selfridges Era
Around 1907 to 1909, the Selfridge family moved to England as Harry prepared to open his great department store on Oxford Street. Selfridges opened in 1909 and transformed London shopping.
Harry believed that a department store should be more than a business. He saw it as modern life theatre. Customers might explore, appreciate displays, attend events, and enjoy a new consumer culture. Newspapers dubbed him the “Earl of Oxford Street,” capturing his popularity and theatricality.
Rosalie grew up within this glittering environment, but she did not become a public figure in her own right. The family moved among impressive properties, including Highcliffe Castle, while maintaining links with London society. Behind the polished surface, however, family life was changing.
On 12 May 1918, Rose Selfridge died in Highcliffe. She died from influenza-related pneumonia during the European and North American pandemic. Rosalie was 24. Her marriage to Serge Vincent Constantinovitch de Bolotoff came months later.
Marriage to Serge de Bolotoff
Rosalie and Serge married on 7 August 1918. Their civil marriage was registered in Marylebone, followed by an Orthodox religious ceremony at the Russian Embassy chapel in London. The ceremony reportedly included golden crowns, an important element of traditional Russian Orthodox weddings.
Serge used various names and titles. Serge de Bolotoff, Serge Wiasemsky, Viasemsky, or Viazemsky, and Prince Serge were his names. His background was either Russian or Bulgarian. His parents were Constantine de Bolotoff and Princess Marie Wiasemsky.
The authenticity of Serge’s princely title and aristocratic ancestry was sometimes questioned. That uncertainty followed him through much of his life, but it did not prevent him from moving through elite social circles or attracting financial backers.
Rosalie and Serge honeymooned in southern France. Their marriage combined the Selfridge family’s commercial splendour with Serge’s restless aviation, engineering, speculation, and debt. Two distinct personalities paired. While Serge chased sky-conquering robots, Rosalie fulfilled her household and social duties.
Serge de Bolotoff and the Dream of Flight
Serge became involved in aviation during the earliest and most uncertain years of powered flight. In 1908, when the Daily Mail offered a prize for the first flight across the English Channel, he announced plans to compete.
He ordered a huge Voisin brothers triplane from France. The plane was roughly 11 meters long and 12 meters wide. Between 110 and 130 horsepower came from a hefty Panhard Levassor engine. The plane may have weighed 1,200 kilos with fuel and pilot.
The ambitious design was punished by early aviation’s power shortage. The aeroplane arrived at Camp de Châlons in Mourmelon in August 1909 after an arduous road trip. A big temporary tent held it for testing. It was difficult for the machine to rise. Serge withdrew from the challenge when Louis Blériot crossed the Channel on July 25, 1909.
He kept experimenting in Britain. His mother’s Upper Norwood home was where he built a biplane in 1912. He constructed a large Goupy triplane between Brooklands and Reigate Priory in 1913. Winds overturned and damaged the plane during taxi testing. A project was abandoned.
Serge also partnered with businessman Robert Mond. Their 1913 work involved Combe Bank near Sevenoaks, Kent. Serge and his brother George produced and sold armaments to the Russian and British governments throughout WWI.
After the war, Serge established the de Bolotoff Aeroplane Works near Sundridge Aerodrome. Its principal design was the SDEB 14, a two seat utility biplane registered as G EAKC in 1919. It had a wingspan of approximately 36 feet and used a Curtiss engine of around 200 horsepower.
Although advertized as a general utility aircraft, its career was brief. Some say it flew, others say it failed trials. One model was manufactured, and the company failed under debt. Serge’s aviation dreams withered after 1919 as Robert Mond stopped funding him.
Rosalie’s Daughter and Later Family Life
Rosalie and Serge had one child, Tatiana Rosemary de Bolotoff, also called Rose Marie or Princess Tatiana Wiasemsky. She was born on 22 May 1919, less than a year after her parents’ wedding.
Tatiana later married Major Craig Wheaton Smith in 1943. Their children included Tatiana Cleone Anne Wheaton Smith and Simon Wheaton Smith. Tatiana was photographed by Bassano in 1938, and her portraits preserve an image of the family’s continuing connection with British high society.
By the 1930s, the family’s financial position had weakened. Harry Selfridge had spent lavishly and maintained a lifestyle that became increasingly difficult to sustain. He lost control of Selfridges during the 1930s, and the fortune that had once seemed immense was reduced sharply.
The 1939 England and Wales Register listed Rosalie at The Malm in Shawford, Hampshire, near Winchester. Dorothea or Dowthea R. Wiasemsky was her amended name. She worked unpaid domestic duties, as many married women did at the time.
Harry Selfridge died in 1947. His remaining estate was surprisingly small compared with the fortune associated with his name. Rosalie received £1,544, apparently most of what was left. Serge died in 1955.
Rosalie died in Oxfordshire in October 1977 at the age of 84. Her death was registered in the Bullingdon district. She was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London beside her husband.
The Wider Selfridge Family
Rosalie’s paternal grandmother, Lois Frances Baxter Selfridge, was significant in the family’s history. Her teaching and principle skills helped raise Harry after his father, Robert Oliver Selfridge, disappeared and died. A train accident killed Union Civil War commander Robert.
Rosalie’s maternal grandparents were Benjamin Hale Buckingham and Martha Euretta Potwin. Through her mother, she inherited connections to the Buckingham and Potwin families, including ancestors such as Levi Baxter and John Stoughton Potwin.
Her sisters also married into prominent circles. Violette married Jacques Jean de Sibour, while Beatrice first married Comte Louis de Sibour and later married Frank Lewis. Her brother Gordon worked in retail and eventually returned to the United States.
FAQ
Who was Rosalie Selfridge De Bolotoff?
Rosalie Selfridge De Bolotoff was the eldest surviving daughter of Harry Gordon Selfridge, founder of Selfridges department store, and Rose Buckingham Selfridge. She was born in Chicago in 1893 and died in Oxfordshire in 1977.
Was Rosalie a princess?
Rosalie was sometimes identified socially as Princess Wiasemsky because of her marriage to Serge de Bolotoff, who used the titles Prince Wiasemsky, Viasemsky, and Viazemsky. The authenticity of his aristocratic title was questioned during his lifetime.
Who was Serge de Bolotoff?
Serge de Bolotoff was an aviation enthusiast, aircraft designer, engineer, and businessman. He experimented with triplanes and biplanes before and after the First World War. His best known aircraft was the SDEB 14, of which only one was built.
Did Rosalie have a career?
There is no clear record of an independent professional career or major business achievement. In the 1939 register, she was described as performing unpaid domestic duties.
Did Rosalie and Serge have children?
Yes. They had one daughter, Tatiana Rosemary de Bolotoff, born on 22 May 1919. She later married Major Craig Wheaton Smith.
Where was Rosalie buried?
Rosalie was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London beside Serge de Bolotoff, who died in 1955.
