Frances Stewart, Duchess of Lennox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frances Stewart
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Portrait by Marcus Gheeraerts, c. 1615
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| Full name |
Frances Howard
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| Born | 27 July 1578 |
| Died | 8 October 1639 (aged 61) |
| Noble family | Howard |
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| Father | Thomas Howard, 1st Viscount Howard of Bindon |
| Mother | Mabel Burton |
Frances Stewart (born Howard) was an important lady at the royal court of James I of England. She was born on July 27, 1578, and passed away on October 8, 1639. Even though she was an orphan with little money, she became the only duchess at King James's court.
Frances married three times. Her first husband died young, leaving her wealthy. Later, she married a much older nobleman, Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford. After his death, she married Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox, who was a cousin of King James. She was known for her beauty and supported Captain John Smith, who explored the Virginia Colony.
Contents
Frances's Early Life and First Marriage
Frances Howard was the daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Viscount Howard of Bindon and Mabel Burton. Her father was the youngest son of a powerful duke, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk.
Frances became an orphan when she was young. In 1592, she married Henry Pranell, the son of a rich London businessman. This marriage surprised some important people, like William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, who had different plans for Frances. Henry Pranell wrote a letter to Lord Burghley, explaining that he loved Frances and that her friends approved of their marriage. He wanted to make sure she was taken care of, as she had little money or family support.
Henry Pranell died in 1599. This made Frances a wealthy widow at just 20 or 21 years old.
A Second Marriage and Royal Connections
Frances was very ambitious. She secretly married Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, on May 27, 1601. Edward was about 40 years older than Frances. He was the nephew of Jane Seymour, who was one of King Henry VIII's wives.
Their marriage was kept secret at first. When it became known, a man named Sir George Rodney, who had wanted to marry Frances, was very upset. He wrote a sad poem to her and then died.
Life at Court with Queen Anne
After King James became king of both Scotland and England, Frances became a lady-in-waiting to his wife, Anne of Denmark. Queen Anne liked Frances and even wore a small portrait of her. The Queen visited Frances and her husband at their home in September 1603.
Frances often helped choose gifts for Christmas and New Year's Day. In November 1603, she wrote about buying an embroidered nightcap for a friend. She wanted it to be very fancy, with black silk, gold, and silver threads. She also bought gifts for the Queen's other ladies. Frances even took part in a special play called The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses for the Queen in January 1604.
Becoming a Duchess
Frances's second husband, Edward Seymour, died in 1621. Just two months later, she married Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox. Ludovic was a cousin of King James. He was also a very important person in the King's government.
There was a story about a valuable gold chain at court in May 1622. King James wanted to give a gift to an ambassador. His son, Prince Charles, suggested giving a beautiful chain that had belonged to Queen Anne to Frances. The King agreed, and Prince Charles gave the chain to her.
Some people at court spread rumors about this gift. They said that another lady, Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, tried to trick Frances into giving the chain back. However, records show that Frances received many valuable jewels from the King. The Countess of Buckingham also received gifts. This story was likely just gossip.
In 1623, Ludovic Stewart was given another important title: Duke of Richmond. This meant Frances became known as the "Double Duchess" because she was a duchess twice over. Ludovic died suddenly in February 1624. He had no children, so his dukedom of Richmond ended. However, Frances kept the title Duchess of Richmond until her own death. She was buried next to her third husband in Westminster Abbey. She had built a beautiful tomb there for him.
Supporting Explorers
Frances Stewart, as the Duchess of Richmond, helped pay for the publication of a famous book. This book was Captain John Smith's The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles. It was published in 1624. Captain Smith dedicated his book to Frances, calling her "the Illustrious and Most Noble Princesse, the Lady Francis, Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox." This shows her important role in supporting exploration and new discoveries.
Her Portraits
Frances Stewart was known for being a beautiful woman with fair hair. Many famous artists painted her. These included Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, William Larkin, and Anthony van Dyck. Several of her portraits still exist today, either as original paintings or copies.
