Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Spencer
VA
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|---|---|
| Baroness Churchill | |
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| Born | Jane Conyngham 1 June 1826 |
| Died | 24 December 1900 (aged 74) Osborne House, Isle of Wight |
| Buried | Finstock, Oxfordshire |
| Noble family | Spencer family |
| Spouse(s) |
Francis Spencer, 2nd Baron Churchill
(m. 1849; died 1886) |
| Issue | Victor Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill |
| Father | Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham |
| Mother | Lady Jane Paget |
| Occupation | Lady of the Bedchamber |
Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill (born Jane Conyngham; 1 June 1826 – 24 December 1900) was an English noblewoman. She was a close friend and companion to Queen Victoria. From 1854 until her death, Lady Churchill worked as a Lady of the Bedchamber for the Queen. This meant she was the longest-serving person in Queen Victoria's personal staff.
Her main job was to travel with the Queen and help her with royal household matters. Even though she served for a long time, we don't know much about Lady Churchill's personal life. This is because she did not write any journals or memories. She was married to Francis Spencer, 2nd Baron Churchill and they had one son.
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Becoming Lady Churchill
Lady Jane Conyngham was born on 1 June 1826. She was the oldest daughter of the Earl of Mount Charles. He later became the 2nd Marquess Conyngham. Her mother was Lady Jane Paget. Lady Jane had two brothers and three sisters.
On 19 May 1849, Lady Jane Conyngham married Francis Spencer. He had become the 2nd Baron Churchill in 1845. Baron Churchill worked in diplomacy when he was younger. Later, he led the Oxfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry. He passed away on 24 November 1886. Jane and Francis had one son, Victor Spencer. He was born on 23 October 1864. Victor later became the 1st Viscount Churchill.
Serving Queen Victoria
Lady Churchill was a loyal friend and trusted helper to Queen Victoria. Lady Churchill's father had served Queen Victoria's uncle, King William IV. In 1854, Lady Churchill was chosen to be a Lady of the Bedchamber. This important job meant she had to go with Queen Victoria to events and public meetings.
Lady Churchill held this position for 46 years until her death. This made her the person who served the Queen's personal household for the longest time. She was also a member of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Third Class. This was a special award given by the Queen.
The writer Greg King said that Lady Churchill was "undoubtedly the most powerful and influential" of the Queen's female staff. She often delivered messages from Queen Victoria to other people in the royal household. Historian K. D. Reynolds wrote that Lady Churchill and other ladies helped the Queen manage the household. They also helped people who needed the Queen's approval for something.
After Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria became a widow. She preferred to have her ladies, like Lady Churchill, pass messages to male members of the household. These messages were often about small rules of good manners. Because of this, Lady Churchill was not always popular, but she was still respected.
Travels and Important Missions
In 1858, Queen Victoria asked Lady Churchill to go with her oldest daughter, Princess Victoria, to Berlin. Princess Victoria was getting married to Prince Frederick of Prussia. Historian Helen Rappaport believes the Queen chose Lady Churchill because she was very careful and dependable. The Queen wanted Lady Churchill to help Princess Victoria get used to her new life in Germany. She also wanted Lady Churchill to report back on even the smallest details there. Lady Churchill stayed with the princess for several weeks. She sent reports back to the Queen about the conditions. One thing she didn't like was how hot the rooms were. Lady Churchill called them "dreadful".
Even though Lady Churchill served the Queen for a long time and was close to her, Queen Victoria could be very demanding. Rappaport wrote that Lady Churchill was good at staying in the background. She did her duties with grace, good humor, and watchfulness.
Lady Churchill often traveled with Queen Victoria on her trips to Scotland. They especially went to Balmoral Castle. These trips were often in bad weather. Lady Jane would still go outside for fresh air with the Queen. The people in the household often found the rooms at the Scottish castle to be cold. On one trip, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert traveled in disguise to Grantown. They called themselves "Lord and Lady Churchill". Lady Jane Churchill went with them as "Miss Spencer" with a small group. At Balmoral, Lady Churchill often read to the Queen from novels. These included Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss.
In February 1872, Lady Churchill was with the Queen in a carriage near Regent's Park. A teenage Irish nationalist named Arthur O'Connor approached them. John Brown, the Queen's servant, saw the boy and stopped him from getting close to the Queen.
Later Life and Passing
Lady Churchill had heart problems for several years. She passed away on Christmas Eve in 1900 from heart failure while sleeping. She was staying at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. She was found the next morning in her bed. Her body was taken to the mainland on 28 December. She was buried on 29 December 1900 at Finstock, Oxfordshire.
Queen Victoria's personal doctor, Sir James Reid, at first did not tell the Queen about Lady Churchill's death. He was worried it would upset the Queen, who was very weak. When she was finally told, the Queen was very shocked and barely ate. She wrote, "The loss to me is not to be told... and that it should happen here is too sad". Queen Victoria herself passed away within a month of Lady Churchill's death.
We don't know many details about Lady Churchill's personal life or her time serving the Queen. This is because she did not keep any journals or memories. Queen Victoria did not allow her ladies-in-waiting to keep diaries.
