Dorothy Ashley-Cooper, Countess of Shaftesbury facts for kids
Dorothy Ashley-Cooper, Countess of Shaftesbury (born around 1656 – died June 1698), was a noblewoman in England. She was married to Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 2nd Earl of Shaftesbury. Together, they were the parents of the 3rd Earl.
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Who Was Dorothy Ashley-Cooper?
Dorothy Ashley-Cooper was born Lady Dorothy Manners. Her father was John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland. Her mother was Frances Montagu. Frances was the daughter of Sir Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton.
Her Family Background
Dorothy came from a very important family. Her brother, John Manners, later became the Duke of Rutland. All five of her sisters also married into noble families.
- Lady Grace Manners married two times. First, she married Patrick Chaworth, 3rd Viscount Chaworth. Later, she married Sir William Langhorne, 1st Baronet.
- Lady Margaret Manners became the Countess of Salisbury.
- Lady Frances Manners became the Countess of Exeter.
- Lady Elizabeth Manners became the Countess of Anglesey.
- Lady Anne Manners became Viscountess Howe.
Her Marriage and Children
Dorothy married the future Earl of Shaftesbury on September 22, 1669. Their marriage was arranged by John Locke. Locke was a famous philosopher and a friend of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury. He had also been a tutor to Dorothy's husband.
In 1672, Dorothy's husband became known as Lord Ashley. This happened when his father became an Earl. Dorothy then became known as Lady Ashley. They had three children together:
- Lady Elizabeth Ashley-Cooper (died 1744) married James Harris. They had children.
- Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713) married Jane Ewer. They had one son.
- Hon. Maurice Ashley-Cooper (1675-1726) married Catharine Popple. They did not have children.
John Locke's Role
John Locke was not just a tutor; he was also the family's doctor. He helped when the couple's first son was born.
Raising the Next Earl
The 1st Earl of Shaftesbury was not happy with his own son. So, he arranged for his grandson, the future 3rd Earl, to be tutored by John Locke. This meant the grandson was taken away from his parents.
However, after the 1st Earl passed away, the boy returned to his mother and father. By then, they were the 2nd Earl and Countess. They sent their son to Winchester College for his education.
