Amabel Hume-Campbell, 1st Countess de Grey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amabel Hume-Campbell
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Portrait with her younger sister, Mary,
by Joshua Reynolds in 1760 |
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| Countess de Grey | |
| Tenure | 1816–1833 |
| Successor | Thomas de Grey |
| Other titles |
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| Born | Lady Amabel Yorke 23 January 1751 |
| Died | 4 March 1833 (aged 82) Westminster, Greater London, England |
| Spouse(s) | Alexander Hume-Campbell, Lord Polwarth |
| Father | Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke |
| Mother | Jemima Campbell, 2nd Marchioness Grey |
| Occupation |
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Amabel Hume-Campbell, 1st Countess de Grey, 5th Baroness Lucas (born Yorke; 23 January 1751 – 4 March 1833) was an important British writer and artist. She held noble titles, Countess de Grey and Baroness Lucas, in her own right. This means she inherited them directly, not through her husband.
Amabel was known for her diaries and political writings. She wrote a lot about the French Revolution. If she had been a man, she would have been a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. She would have belonged to the Whig political group.
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Early Life and Education
Amabel Yorke was born in 1751. She was the older daughter of Philip Yorke, the 2nd Earl of Hardwicke. Her mother was Jemima Campbell, the 2nd Marchioness Grey and 4th Baroness Lucas.
Amabel was educated at home. Her family lived at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and also had a home in London. She loved reading books from a very young age, starting at five years old. This love for books led her to become a diarist, writing down her thoughts and experiences.
When she was a child, a famous artist named Joshua Reynolds painted her portrait. You can see copies of this painting in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Artistic Talents
Amabel was also very interested in art. She learned from several talented teachers. James Basire and Alexander Cozens taught her about art in general. She also learned how to make etchings from James Bretherton. Etching is a type of printmaking.
Many of her own prints are kept today at the British Museum. This shows how skilled she was as an artist.
Political Writing
Besides her art, Amabel was a keen political writer. She often wrote about important political events of her time. She was especially interested in the French Revolution, a major event in European history.
Her writings show that she had strong political views. If she had been a man, she would have been able to serve in the House of Lords. This was a time when women could not hold political office. She would have supported the Whig party, which was a major political group in Britain.
Marriage and Titles
On 17 August 1780, Amabel married Alexander Hume-Campbell, who was known as Lord Polwarth. They did not have any children together.
In 1797, Amabel inherited the title of 5th Baroness Lucas from her mother. This was a special title she held in her own right. Later, in 1816, she was given another important title. She became the Countess de Grey, also in her own right.
This new title had a "special remainder." This meant that if she didn't have her own male heirs, the title would pass to her sister's male children. Her younger sister, Mary, had married Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham. Mary passed away before Amabel. Amabel's nephew, Mary's eldest son, eventually inherited both the earldom of de Grey and the barony of Lucas after Amabel's death.
Later Life and Legacy
Countess Amabel Hume-Campbell died in Westminster in 1833. She was 82 years old.
She left a very generous gift to the British Museum: over 4,000 etchings. Many people believe that she had collected these etchings herself. This collection is a valuable part of her legacy, showing her passion for art and her contributions to British culture.
See Also
