Caroline Agar-Ellis, Viscountess Clifden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Croline Agar-Ellis
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|---|---|
| Viscountess Clifden | |
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| Born | Lady Caroline Spencer 27 October 1763 |
| Died | 23 November 1813 (aged 50) Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England |
| Noble family | Spencer |
| Spouse(s) |
Henry Agar-Ellis, 2nd Viscount Clifden
(m. 1792) |
| Issue | George Agar-Ellis, 1st Baron Dover |
| Father | George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough |
| Mother | Lady Caroline Russell |
Caroline Agar-Ellis, Viscountess Clifden (born October 27, 1763 – died November 23, 1813), was an important English noblewoman. She was known as Lady Caroline Spencer before she got married.
Who Was Caroline Agar-Ellis?
Caroline Agar-Ellis was born into a very important family. Her father was George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough, a Duke, and her mother was Lady Caroline Russell. Being the eldest daughter of a Duke meant she grew up in a world of high society and important connections.
Her Marriage and Family
When Caroline was younger, there were plans for her to marry a few different people, but these plans changed. Eventually, on March 10, 1792, she married Henry Agar-Ellis, 2nd Viscount Clifden. A Viscount is a noble title, a bit like a Lord, but a step below an Earl.
Caroline and Henry had two children:
- Their son, George Agar-Ellis, was born in 1797. He later became a Baron, which is another type of noble title.
- Their daughter, Caroline Anne, was born in 1794. Sadly, she passed away in 1814 and never married.
The Famous Painting
One of the most interesting things about Caroline Agar-Ellis is a famous painting of her. In 1791, a well-known artist named George Romney painted a portrait of Caroline and her sister Elizabeth. Their father asked for this painting to be made.
The painting shows the sisters as if they were muses. Muses were goddesses in ancient Greek stories who inspired artists and thinkers. In the painting, Caroline is shown as the muse of visual arts, like painting.
This painting became very famous and was known as "the Clifden Romney." When it was sold in 1896, it brought in a huge amount of money, one of the highest prices ever paid for a painting in the United Kingdom at that time! Later, it was owned by an American businessman and collector named Henry E. Huntington.
Her Later Life
Viscountess Clifden passed away at the age of 50. She died at Blenheim Palace, which is a very grand and historic home. She was buried in her family's special burial place, next to her mother.
