Ivan, Viscount d'Oyley

Until recently, Viscount d’Oyley was considered a French fencer. Recent research has revealed, however, that Alastair Ivan Ladislaus Lucidus Evans was an American, the son of well-known Parisian-based American dentist, Dr. John Henry Evans. Viscount d’Oyley is not known to have represented any French club in 1900 fencing, so he is likely best termed an American entrant.

John Evans followed his uncle, Dr. Thomas Wiltberger Evans, to Paris. Thomas Evans had become famous as a dental surgeon to nobility and was able to amass a fortune in Parisian real estate. John Evans moved from his native Baltimore to Paris in an attempt to set up a similar lucrative dental practice. He succeeded, working on Pope Leo XIII, who bestowed on him the title of Marquis d’Oyley. John Evans also stole several of his uncle’s patients, however, and after he succeeded to the nobility, enjoyed riding around in Paris in a magnificent carriage with a coat of arms and yellow-stockinged footmen. His uncle promptly disowned him and wrote him out of the will.

Due to his father’s titles, Ivan Evans was also bestowed as the Viscount d’Oyley. In 1904 he took up with the Peruvian Madame Pflucker, who he met in Vichy. They sojourned to Cannes, and stayed on the Riviera for some time together, against John Evans’ protests. The father cut Ivan off any income and the couple returned to Paris, staying at the Hotel de Rivoli. There, Viscount d’Oyley died, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The original story was that this was a suicide attempt, although later reports from his father stated he did not die by his own hand. Madame Pflucker confirmed the suicide theory, producing two letters he had addressed to authorities stating he intended to commit suicide.