Elizabeth Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield

Elizabeth Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield (29 June 1640[1] – July 1665) was the second wife of Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield.

Marriage

Lady Elizabeth was born at Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Ireland, the eldest daughter of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and Lady Elizabeth Preston.. She married Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, as his second wife,[2] some time before 25 September 1660. He was one of the lovers of the notorious Barbara Villiers, mistress of King Charles II of England. There were many at court who believed Barbara's first child, Anne bore a strong resemblance to Chesterfield. His first wife was Lady Anne Percy, daughter of Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland; she died on 29 November 1654 with no surviving children.

Together Elizabeth and Chesterfield had one daughter, Lady Elizabeth Stanhope, later Countess of Strathmore, although the child's paternity was in doubt. According to Samuel Pepys, theirs was a marriage of convenience, but Chesterfield, despite his own past conduct with Barbara Villiers, became jealous when rumours spread that his wife was having affairs with both James Hamilton and James, Duke of York, with whom she is said to have been caught in flagrante delicto. On the other hand, he describes Elizabeth as "a virtuous lady".[3]

The Chevalier de Grammont, in his memoirs, claims that King Charles II of England told him that his brother was in love with Elizabeth.[4] He also says of Elizabeth that, "she had a most exquisite shape, though she was not very tall: her complexion was extremely fair, with all the expressive charms of a brunette: she had large blue eyes, very tempting and alluring: her manners were engaging: her wit lively and amusing; but her heart, ever open to tender sentiments, was neither scrupulous in point of constancy, nor nice in point of sincerity."

In May 1663, the couple went to live at Bretby in Derbyshire. It was around this time that their daughter, Elizabeth was born.

Death and legacy

She died in July 1665 shortly after her 25th birthday and was buried on 18 July 1665 at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

Her daughter, Lady Elizabeth (May 1663 – 24 April 1723), who was a child of two years at the time of Elizabeth's death, married John Lyon, 4th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1691; the couple had 10 children. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen consort of George VI of the United Kingdom was one of her many descendants.

Elizabeth's portrait was painted by Sir Peter Lely, and at one time belonged to Horace Walpole.[5]

References

  1. ↑ G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 182.
  2. ↑ Maurice Ashley (1977). James II. J. M. Dent. ISBN 978-0-460-12021-0.
  3. ↑ Samuel Pepys (1848). Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, F.R.S.: Secretary to the Admiralty in the Reigns of Charles II. and James II. With a Life and Notes. H. Colburn. pp. 61–.
  4. ↑ Letters to Several Celebrated Individuals of the Time of Charles II, James II, William III and Queen Anne, with Some of Their Replies. Lloyd. 1829. pp. 28–.
  5. ↑ Horace Walpole (9 October 2015). Delphi Complete Works of Horace Walpole (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. pp. 788–. GGKEY:WWXX9UD28HC.
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