Frances Vane, Viscountess Vane facts for kids
Frances Anne Vane, Viscountess Vane (born Hawes; around January 1715 – March 31, 1788), was a British writer known for her personal stories.
Contents
Early Life and First Marriage
Frances Anne Hawes was born around January 1715 in London. Her father, Francis Hawes, was a stockbroker who became very rich. He was even a director of the South Sea Company. However, he lost most of his money after a big financial crisis in 1721. Because of this, Frances grew up in a family that had money troubles, and she didn't have much of a dowry (money or property a bride brings to a marriage).
Frances was known for being a great dancer and was very pretty and lively. She caught the eye of Lord William Hamilton, the second son of the 4th Duke of Hamilton. Her father tried to stop their relationship, but Frances and Lord William secretly married in May 1733. After this, she became known as Lady William Hamilton.
Lord William worked for Caroline of Ansbach, the Queen, but he wasn't very rich himself. The Queen even called them "handsome beggars" because they were good-looking but poor. Their marriage was short. Lady William became a widow on July 11, 1734, when Lord William passed away.
Second Marriage and Troubles
After her first husband died, Lady William was encouraged by her family and friends to marry William Vane, 2nd Viscount Vane. They married on May 19, 1735, and she became Viscountess Vane.
This marriage was very unhappy. Lady Vane often left her husband and tried to get a divorce. In 1736, while visiting Paris, she left with Sewallis Shirley. They traveled together in Brussels for two years. Her husband tried hard to get her to come back, even offering rewards in newspapers for information about her. Lady Vane was not pleased by his efforts.
Later, she spent time with Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley. This ended in 1741 when she accepted her husband's offer of money and a separate home for herself.
Memoirs of a Lady of Quality
In 1751, a writer named Tobias Smollett included a section called Memoirs of a Lady of Quality in his novel The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. These memoirs were written by Lady Vane herself, though they were published without her name and edited by John Shebbeare. Everyone soon realized that the "lady of quality" was Lady Vane.
In her memoirs, Viscountess Vane wrote about her life and openly discussed the social rules of her time. She also shared her deep sadness after her first husband died.
Later Life and Death
After her memoirs were published, Lady Vane spent most of her time in Bath, Somerset. Her spending habits caused financial problems for her husband. She became ill and was bedridden for the last 20 years of her life. During this time, she thought about becoming a Catholic.
Frances Anne Vane passed away without children on March 31, 1788, at her home in London. She was buried in the Vane family tomb in Shipborne, Kent. Lord Vane, her husband, died the following year.
