Henrietta Knight, Lady Luxborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lady Luxborough
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Portrait of Lady Luxborough by Maria Verelst
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| Born |
Henrietta St John
15 July 1699 |
| Died | 26 March 1756 (aged 56) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
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Henrietta Knight, Baroness Luxborough (born St John; 15 July 1699 — 26 March 1756) was an English poet and letter writer. She is mostly remembered today for her gardening. She married Robert Knight in 1727. He was a politician who was becoming more important. In 1736, she moved to his estate at Barrells Hall after some personal difficulties.
As Henrietta, Lady Luxborough (from 1745), she was one of the first people to create a ferme ornée. This is a type of ornamental farm. She is also believed to have used the word "shrubbery" for the first time. She was an important member of the Warwickshire Coterie. This was a group of poet friends. It included the gardener and poet William Shenstone. He had also created his own ferme ornée at The Leasowes in Halesowen, Shropshire. Lady Luxborough remained married to her husband. She died before he received his final titles.
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Family Background
Henrietta was the only daughter of Henry St John, 1st Viscount St John. Her mother was Angelica Magdalena. She was the daughter of Georges Pillesary. He was a treasurer in France under Louis XIV. Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, was Henrietta's half-brother.
Her Marriage
On 20 June 1727, Henrietta St John married Robert Knight. He lived at Barrells Hall in Warwickshire. Robert Knight became Lord Luxborough in 1745. The couple separated in 1736. Henrietta then moved to Barrells Hall.
John Dalton was a tutor for the children of the Hertfords. Frances Seymour, Countess of Hertford, was a friend of Henrietta. Dalton later became a prebendary at Worcester Cathedral. He was also a rector in London. He was known for his poetic works.
Life at Barrells Hall
Henrietta Knight lived at her husband's estate, Barrells Hall. She designed the gardens there in the new style of English landscape gardening. She was close to her friend and fellow writer William Shenstone. She often visited him at The Leasowes. They also wrote many letters to each other. Shenstone wrote about their beautiful gardens in his poem Rural Elegance. He dedicated it to the Duchess of Somerset in 1750. Another friend was the poet William Somervile.
The word shrubbery was first written down in one of her letters. She wrote it to Shenstone in 1748. She said: "Nature has been so remarkably kind this last Autumn to adorn my Shrubbery with the flowers that usually blow at Whitsuntide".
Henrietta Knight died in March 1756. She was buried in the church of Wootton Wawen. Her remains were later moved to a special building near Barrells Hall.
Her Writings
Lady Luxborough's book, Letters to William Shenstone, Esq., was published in London in 1775. It was put out by Robert Dodsley. Four poems were printed in Dodsley's Collection of Poems by several hands (1775). These poems were said to be "by a lady of quality". Horace Walpole believed they were written by Lady Luxborough.
Her poems are about the weather or nature. One poem shows the spirit of English landscape gardening. It is called:
Written at a Ferme Ornee near Birmingham; August 7th, 1749.
- 'TIS Nature here bids pleasing scenes arise,
- And wisely gives them Cynthio, to revise:
- To veil each blemish; brighten every grace;
- Yet still preserve the lovely Parent's face.
- How well the bard obeys, each valley tells;
- These lucid streams, gay meads, and lonely cells;
- Where modest art in silence lurks conceal'd:
- While Nature shines, so gracefully reveal'd,
- That she triumphant claims the total plan;
- And, with fresh pride, adopts the work of man.
Other letters she wrote appeared in a book by Thomas Hull. It was called Select Letters between the late Duchess of Somerset, Lady Luxborough … and others. This book was published in London in 1778.
Her Children
Lady Luxborough and Lord Luxborough had a son named Henry. He married a daughter of Thomas Heath in 1750. Henry died before his father and had no children. They also had two daughters. One daughter married a French count. The other daughter, Henrietta, married Charles Wymondesold.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Lady Luxborough by Maria Verelst
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Henrietta's mother, Angelica Pelissary
