Laura Pulteney, 1st Countess of Bath facts for kids
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Henrietta Laura Pulteney, the 1st Countess of Bath, was a very important British noblewoman and a wealthy heiress. She lived from 1766 to 1808. She inherited a lot of land and money, which made her a significant figure in her time.
Her Early Life
Henrietta Laura Johnstone was born in Westminster. She was the only child of William Johnstone, who later became Sir William Pulteney, and his wife, Frances Pulteney. Her family was very rich. They lived in a grand home called Bath House in Piccadilly, where she grew up.
When her mother passed away in 1782, Henrietta inherited all the Pulteney family's estates. This meant she became very wealthy at a young age. She first learned at home. Later, she went to a special school called a convent in Montparnasse, Paris, finishing in 1783. While in Paris, she met many important people and was introduced to French society. Henrietta also spent time in Sudborough, Northamptonshire. She even helped set up schools there and in Clewer, Berkshire.
Becoming a Countess
Even though Henrietta's father was not a politician, he helped her get a special noble title. In 1792, when she was 26 years old, she was given the title Baroness of Bath. This title was named after the county of Somerset.
It was a bit unusual because another noble title, "Marquess of Bath," had just been created for a different person in 1789. Some people tried to stop Henrietta from having her title because they thought it was too similar. However, their efforts failed. In 1803, she received an even higher title: Countess of Bath. This was also in the County of Somerset.
On July 17, 1794, Henrietta married her father's first cousin, Sir James Murray. After their marriage, he added "Pulteney" to his name.
Later Years and Legacy
Henrietta's father died in 1805 without leaving a will. His personal wealth was divided between Henrietta and his second wife. Henrietta inherited two-thirds of his money and property in both England and America.
She passed away in Brighton at the age of 41, just over three years later. It's thought she might have died from a lung illness called consumption (now known as tuberculosis). She was buried in Westminster Abbey. Since she did not have any children, her special titles of Baroness and Countess of Bath ended with her.
Places Named After Her
Henrietta Laura Pulteney's name lives on in a few places:
- The town of Henrietta, New York, was named after her. Her father had invested in land there.
- A tower at Shrewsbury Castle is called 'Laura's Tower'. This octagonal tower was built around 1790 by Thomas Telford. Telford was hired by her father to redesign the castle as his home in Shrewsbury.
