Richard Burton, Actor
(1925-1984)
Getting around
The 'Other' Richard Burton
The word 'extraordinary' applies to the life, work, will and grave of nineteenth-century explorer Richard Burton and his wife and literary executrix Isabel.
Richard Burton was born in Wales in 1925, lived most of his adult life in America, married (twice) American actress Elizabeth Taylor, had other wives, and died in Switzerland in 1984.
At death, was he domiciled in Wales, America or Switzerland?
Burton himself wanted Swiss domicile for tax purposes. Her Majesty's tax inspector preferred Wales, the better to tax the actor's worldwide assets at 40%.
A few days after his death, Burton was buried in Geligny, near Geneva.
One national newspaper reported that Burton was buried in Wales. Some internet sites say that his ashes were shipped from Switzerland to Wales for interment. Reportedly, a British tax inspector was mightily influenced by a photograph of a Welsh flag draped over Burton's coffin in Switzerland.
British tax authorities decided that he had not actually shed his domicile of birth, deemed him Welsh, and sent a hefty tax bill.
