Count Robin de La Lanne-Mirrlees - Ian Flemings real inspiration for Bond

After learning more about this man lately, after the private island he formly owned is up for sale I though I would post for those who don't know already about the Count, his friendship with Fleming and the role he played in the development of OHMSS

http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2015/06/16/bond-island-buyout-confirmed-for-great-berbera/

Biography - He was born as Robin Ian Evelyn Grinnell-Milne in 1925. His father was Duncan Grinnell-Milne, and his stepaunt was the author Hope Mirrlees. He was a godson of the 11th Duke of Argyll. He was educated at the English School of Cairo, and also in Paris. He also attended Merton College, Oxford. He undertook military service, rising to the rank of captain in the Royal Artillery. His heraldic career began on 17 May 1952 when he was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary.[2] Later that year his name was changed to that listed above.

In 1958 he adopted by deed poll the name of Robin Ian Evelyn Milne Stuart le Comte de La Lanne-Mirrlees.[4][5] He would hold this post of Rouge Dragon until December 1962, when he was promoted to the office of Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary.[6] He retired from this post in 1967.[7] During his time at the College of Arms, Milne Stuart de la Lanne-Mirrlees was perhaps best known for his correspondence with Ian Fleming. Fleming was doing research for his book On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

In 1962 Count Mirrlees purchased the islands of Great Bernera, Little Bernera, and Eilean Chearstaidh, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The Count lived on Great Bernera until his death, though he sold the uninhabited Eilean Chearstaidh in 1990.

In 1971 he bought and partly restored Inchdrewer Castle, near Banff in Aberdeenshire.[8]

In 1975, Milne Stuart de la Lanne-Mirrlees was recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as Baron of Inchdrewer and Laird of Bernera.[9] He was also a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. In 1992, by a further deed poll, he adopted the name Robin Ian Evelyn Milne Stuart le Prince de la Lanne-Mirrlees. In 2005, he began to assert his claim to a princely title bestowed on him by King Peter II of Yugoslavia.

After several years of ill health, he died at a nursing home in Stornoway, Scotland on 23 June 2012.

Influence on James Bond Count Robin played a large role in the development of the James Bond character. A Scottish aristocrat well known for wooing beautiful women, he worked with Ian Fleming on his book On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and was the main inspiration for the characteristics of James Bond. In the story, James Bond's cover as genealogist Sir Hilary Bray was based on the Count's current position as heraldic researcher at the College of Arms in London.