Helena Keith-Falconer, Countess of Kintore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Countess of Kintore
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Helena Keith-Falconer, Countess of Kintore (formerly Helena Montagu, Duchess of Manchester) wearing the Manchester Tiara in 1912. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division / Wikicommons.
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Helena Zimmerman
25 September 1878 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | 15 December 1971 (aged 93) Keith Hall, Inverurie, Scotland |
| Spouses |
William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester
(m. 1900; div. 1931) |
| Children |
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| Parents | Eugene Zimmerman Marietta Evans |
| Relatives | Sidney Montagu, 11th Duke of Manchester (grandson) Angus Montagu, 12th Duke of Manchester (grandson) |
| Other names | The Duchess of Manchester (1900–1931) |
Helena Keith-Falconer, Countess of Kintore (born Zimmerman; 25 September 1878 – 15 December 1971) was an American heiress. This means she inherited a lot of money. She married into the British aristocracy twice. First, she married the 9th Duke of Manchester. Later, she married the 10th Earl of Kintore.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Helena was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 25 September 1878. She was the only child of Eugene Zimmerman and Marietta Evans Zimmerman. Sadly, her mother died when Helena was only four years old.
Her father, Eugene Zimmerman, became very wealthy. He started in the oil business and later invested in railroads. He became the president of several railroad companies. This made him incredibly rich.
Helena's father sent her to France for many years. There, she received her education. She became very skilled in horse riding and fencing.
First Marriage to a Duke
When Helena was 21, she met William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester. He was 23 at the time. They met at a costume ball in Dinard, France. His mother was a Cuban American heiress named Consuelo Yznaga.
Helena and William married on 14 November 1900, in London. Neither her father nor his mother were at the wedding. It was said that the Duke's mother was not happy about the marriage.
Family Homes and Children
In 1903, Helena's father bought them Kylemore Castle in Connemara, Ireland. The couple also owned a house in London. They had two country estates: Kimbolton Castle and Tandragee Castle in Northern Ireland.
Helena and William had four children:
- Lady Mary Alice Montagu (1901–1962)
- Alexander Montagu, 10th Duke of Manchester (1902–1977)
- Lord Edward Eugene Fernando Montagu (1906–1954)
- Lady Ellen Millicent Louise Montagu (1908–1948)
Financial Challenges and Divorce
The Duke's family had been important in British society for a long time. However, they did not have much money left. The Duke also spent a lot of money, which caused financial problems.
In 1920, due to the Duke's spending, they had to sell Kylemore Castle. It was sold to Benedictine nuns. Helena's father made sure that the Duke would not receive any money from his will. Helena's father passed away in 1914, leaving a large fortune in a trust for her.
After several years of separation, Helena and the Duke divorced in December 1931. The Duke later remarried. He passed away in February 1947.
Second Marriage to an Earl
On 23 November 1937, Helena married again. Her second husband was Arthur Keith-Falconer, 10th Earl of Kintore. Lord Kintore was a soldier. He fought in the Boer War and World War I.
Lord Kintore passed away in London on 26 May 1966. Helena and Lord Kintore did not have any children together. Because of this, his older sister became the 11th Countess of Kintore.
Helena, the Dowager Countess of Kintore, died at Keith Hall in Inverurie on 15 December 1971. She was buried next to her second husband.
Her Descendants
Through her eldest son, Alexander, Helena had two grandsons:
- Sidney Montagu, 11th Duke of Manchester (1929–1985)
- Angus Montagu, 12th Duke of Manchester (1938–2002)
Angus Montagu had three children.
Gallery
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Her father, Eugene Zimmerman, 1910.
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Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdonshire, a home of the Dukes of Manchester.
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Keith Hall in Inverurie, Scotland.
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The Duchess and one of her daughters, 1930.
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Her grandson, Sidney Montagu, 11th Duke of Manchester, by Allen Warren, 1981
