Anne Townshend, Marchioness Townshend facts for kids

Anne Townshend, Marchioness Townshend was born around 1752 and passed away on March 29, 1819. Her original name was Anne Montgomery. She was a lady who worked at the British royal court. She became the second wife of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, who was a very important nobleman. He later became the 1st Marquess Townshend.

Who Was Anne Townshend?

Anne Townshend was an important figure in British society during the late 1700s and early 1800s. She was known for her marriage into a noble family and her role at the royal court.

Her Family Background

Anne was the daughter of Sir William Montgomery, 1st Baronet (who lived from 1717 to 1788), and his first wife, Hannah. Her only brother, William, sadly passed away in 1777 while serving in the American War of Independence (a big war where America fought for its freedom). After William's death, her half-brother George inherited the special title of Baronet. Her family lived at a place called Macbie Hill in Scotland.

Marriage and Children

Anne Montgomery married the Viscount (a type of nobleman) on May 19, 1773. Her husband already had three children from his first marriage, as his first wife had passed away in 1770. Anne and her husband had six more children together:

• Lord William Townshend (1778–1794)
• Captain Lord James Nugent Boyle Bernardo Townshend (born September 11, 1785, died June 28, 1842). He became a Captain in the navy.
• Lady Anne Townshend (died November 29, 1826)
• Lady Charlotte Townshend (born March 16, 1776, died July 30, 1856). She later married George Osborne, 6th Duke of Leeds and became the Duchess of Leeds.
• Lady Honoria Townshend (1777–1826)
• Lady Henrietta Townshend (died November 9, 1848)

A Role at Court

In 1787, Anne's husband received an even higher title and became the 1st Marquess Townshend. This made Anne the Marchioness Townshend. From 1795 to 1808, the Marchioness had an important job at the royal court. She was the Mistress of the Robes to Caroline, Princess of Wales. This role meant she helped the Princess with her clothes and personal needs, and was a close attendant. In 1801, she asked a famous artist named Thomas Lawrence to paint a special picture of Princess Caroline and her daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Her Famous Portrait

A portrait of Anne Townshend, painted in 1780 by another famous artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds, can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery in London.