Rupert Cornwell


Rupert Howard Cornwell was a British journalist connected with The Independent newspaper for thirty years.

Early life and education

Born to Ronnie Cornwell and Jeanie Gronow in 1946, he read Greek at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Career

Cornwell worked in advertising following graduation. He began his journalism career with Reuters in 1968. Cornwell was sent to the Brussels branch office, where he met his first wife, interpreter Angela Doria. They moved to Paris, where Cornwell joined the Financial Times as a foreign correspondent. From France, Cornwell and Doria moved to Rome, and Bonn. The couple separated and Cornwell was then the first Moscow correspondent of The Independent, from its launch in 1986. During this time, he won two British Press Awards. Later in his career, Cornwell served as the Chief US Commentator at The Independent newspaper.
His book God's Banker, about Roberto Calvi, an Italian banker found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge, was published in 1983.

Personal life

He was the half-brother of John le Carré and cricketer Anthony Cornwell. Charlotte, his sister, is an actress.
His first marriage, in 1972, was to European Parliament interpreter Angela Doria; they had a son, Sean. In 1988, he married Susan Smith, whom he had met while in Bonn. They had a son, Stas.
Rupert Cornwell died, aged 71, on 31 March 2017 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C. from cancer.