Frederica Murray, Countess of Mansfield facts for kids

Frederica Murray, Countess of Mansfield, was an important lady in British history. She was born Frederica Markham in 1774 and lived until 1860. She became the Countess of Mansfield when she married David William Murray, who was the 3rd Earl of Mansfield.

Early Life and Family

Frederica came from a large and notable family. Her father, William Markham, was a very important church leader. He held the high position of Archbishop of York. Her mother was Sarah Goddard.

Frederica had many siblings. She had seven sisters and six brothers! One of her brothers, John, became a well-known Admiral in the Royal Navy. Another brother, George, was a Dean in York, which is another important church role.

Marriage and Becoming a Countess

In 1796, Frederica's future husband, David William Murray, became the Earl of Mansfield. This happened after his father, David Murray, passed away. As the Earl, he inherited a beautiful and famous home called Kenwood House in London. The family also owned other large homes in Scotland and Ireland.

Frederica and David got married the following year, on September 16, 1797. After their marriage, Frederica became the Countess of Mansfield.

Children of the Countess

Frederica and David had nine children together:

• Lady Frederica Louisa Murray (born 1800, died 1823). She married James Hamilton Stanhope and had children.
• Lady Elizabeth Anne Murray (born 1803, died 1880). She never married.
• Lady Caroline Murray (born 1805, died 1873). She worked for Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh as her Lady of the Bedchamber.
• William David (born 1806, died 1898). He later became the 4th Earl of Mansfield. He married Louisa Ellison and had children.
• Lady Georgina Catherine Murray (born 1807, died 1871).
• Honourable Charles John Murray (born 1810, died 1851). He married Frances Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson. They had children.
• Honourable David Henry Murray (born 1811, died 1862). He was a captain in the Scots Fusilier Guards. He married Margaret Grant, Lady Gray, but they did not have children.
• Lady Cecilia Sarah Murray (born 1814, died 1830).
• Lady Emily Murray (born 1816, died 1902). She married Francis Seymour, who later became the 5th Marquess of Hertford. They had children.

Life at Kenwood House

Frederica's father, the Archbishop of York, passed away in 1807.

The Countess Frederica is believed to have been very involved in making big changes to Kenwood House. These improvements happened between 1813 and 1816. The work was so extensive that the number of staff needed to run the house actually doubled! This shows her dedication to managing their family home.