Elizabeth, Countess de Gramont facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Hamilton
Comtesse de Gramont
Detail from portrait below
Tenure	1678–1708
Born	Elizabeth Hamilton 1641
Died	3 June 1708 Paris
Spouse(s)	Philibert, comte de Gramont
Issue Detail	Claude Charlotte & Marie Élisabeth
Father	George Hamilton, Baronet
Mother	Mary Butler

Elizabeth Hamilton (1641–1708) was a famous Irish lady who lived in the 1600s. She was known for her beauty and wit. She first served at the court of King Charles II of England in London. Later, after marrying Philibert de Gramont, she moved to France. There, she became a lady-in-waiting to the French Queen, Maria Theresa of Spain, at the court of King Louis XIV.

People called her "la belle Hamilton," which means "the beautiful Hamilton." She was even painted by a famous artist named Peter Lely as one of his "Windsor Beauties." Her brother, Anthony Hamilton, wrote a well-known book called Mémoires du comte de Grammont, where she is a very important character.

Early Life and Family History

Elizabeth was born in 1641 in Ireland. She likely grew up in Nenagh, a town in County Tipperary. Her father was George Hamilton. He was from Scotland and later became a baronet, which is a special title.

Her mother, Mary Butler, came from a powerful Irish family called the Butler dynasty. Her uncle was James Butler, a very important duke. Both of Elizabeth's parents were Catholic. They got married in 1635. Elizabeth had eight brothers and sisters, including her famous brother Anthony.

In 1640, Elizabeth's uncle, the Duke of Ormond, gave her father the lands and castle of Nenagh. This was where her family lived and where Elizabeth was born.

Growing Up During the Irish Wars

The year Elizabeth was born, 1641, a big rebellion started in Ireland. This led to many years of fighting, known as the Irish Confederate Wars and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

During these wars, Elizabeth, her mother, and her siblings stayed at their home in Nenagh. Her father, George Hamilton, was a colonel in the army. He defended Nenagh Castle in 1650 when it was attacked by the Parliamentarian army.

Life in France: Exile and Education

Around 1651, when Elizabeth was about ten years old, her family had to leave Ireland. They went to France because of the wars. They first stayed in Caen, a city in France.

Elizabeth then moved to Paris with her mother. Her mother found a place to live in a convent. Elizabeth was sent to a special boarding school. This school was at the abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, near Versailles. It was a very good school that taught in French, which was unusual at the time. She studied there for about seven or eight years.

After finishing school, Elizabeth joined the court of Henrietta Maria. She was the Queen Mother, the widow of King Charles I of England. She had moved to France in 1644. In 1660, Elizabeth met Sir John Reresby at a party celebrating the return of King Charles II to England.

Life at the English Court

In 1661, Elizabeth became part of the English court at Whitehall in London. She was known as "la belle Hamilton" because of her great beauty. People also admired her for being smart, charming, and sensible. She was known for being witty and careful with her words. She also loved playing jokes on people.

Many noblemen at court tried to win her over. The Duke of Richmond wanted to marry her, but she refused when she learned he wouldn't marry her without a dowry (money or property given by the bride's family). She also turned down other important men, including the future King James II.

Meeting Philibert de Gramont

In January 1663, Philibert, chevalier de Gramont, arrived at the English court. He was a French nobleman who had been sent away from the French court by King Louis XIV. Philibert was in his forties.

He quickly became popular at the English court. French was often spoken there, so he fit right in. Elizabeth admired his cleverness and charm, and she fell in love with him.

Marriage and Family Life

Elizabeth and Philibert got married in London in late 1663 or early 1664. After they married, King Louis XIV allowed Philibert to return to France.

There's a famous story about their marriage. It says that when Philibert was leaving England, Elizabeth's brothers, George and Anthony, stopped him. They asked if he had forgotten something. He supposedly replied, "Forgive me, Sirs, I have forgotten to marry your sister!" Then he turned around and married her. While this story is fun, it's not entirely true about the timing, as they were already married before he got permission to return to France. But it might be true that her brothers encouraged him!

Elizabeth and Philibert had two daughters:

• Claude Charlotte (born around 1665 – died 1739). She married Henry Stafford-Howard, the 1st Earl of Stafford.
• Marie Élisabeth (1667–1729). She became an abbess, which is the head of a convent of nuns, in 1695.

Both daughters later served as maids-of-honour to the French Dauphine, the wife of the king's eldest son. Philibert's family line ended with his daughters, as Claude Charlotte had no children and Marie Élisabeth was a nun.

Life at the French Court

Elizabeth moved to France with her husband. In 1667, she was appointed a dame du palais, or lady-in-waiting, to the French Queen, Maria Theresa of Spain. At that time, the French court was at the Louvre in Paris.

At the court of King Louis XIV, Elizabeth was still known for her intelligence and beauty. She knew how to handle herself well in the busy court. Her husband, Philibert, continued his adventurous life even as he grew older.

In 1679, Elizabeth's husband became comte de Gramont. So, she became known as the comtesse de Gramont.

In May 1682, the French court moved from the Louvre to the grand Versailles. In 1683, Elizabeth's role as lady-in-waiting ended when the Queen died. In 1684, a spiritual guide named Fénelon began to advise her. In 1690, King Louis XIV gave her her own apartment in the Palace of Versailles.

In 1694, her daughter Claude Charlotte married Henry Stafford-Howard. He was an English nobleman who had come to France with King James II. Their marriage was not a happy one and they had no children.

In 1699, Elizabeth temporarily lost favor with the King. This happened because she visited the abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, where she had gone to school. The King did not like the Jansenists, a religious group connected to the abbey. She had to ask for his forgiveness.

In May 1703, when she was 61, King Louis XIV lent her a house near the Gardens of Versailles. She named it Pontalie. This name comes from a story written by her brother Anthony.

Later Years and Passing

Elizabeth's husband, Philibert, died on January 31, 1707, in Paris. Elizabeth herself passed away about a year later, on June 3, 1708, also in Paris.

Images for kids

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  Portrait by Peter Lely, c. 1663, one of the series of Windsor Beauties. She is depicted as Saint Catherine as she holds a martyr's palm leaf in her left hand and a wheel leans against the socle of the column behind.

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  Engraving by Edward Scriven 1810, after Peter Lely.