Lennox sisters facts for kids
The Lennox sisters were four famous sisters from the 1700s in Britain. They were part of a very important family, daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and his wife Lady Sarah Cadogan.
These four sisters were:
- Caroline Fox, 1st Baroness Holland (1723–1774)
- Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster (1731–1814)
- Lady Louisa Conolly (1743–1821)
- Lady Sarah Lennox (1745–1826)
They all married important men and became well-known for different reasons. Another sister passed away at age 19, and three others died when they were very young children.
Contents
Caroline: A Life of Love and Loss
Georgiana Caroline Lennox was born on March 27, 1723. When she was 21, in 1744, she ran away to marry Henry Fox. He was a Whig politician, meaning he was involved in government.
Even though her parents were upset at first, they eventually forgave her. However, her father did not choose her to look after her younger sisters in his will. In 1762, Caroline became a noblewoman, known as Baroness Holland. Her husband became Baron Holland the next year.
Caroline had three sons who lived to adulthood. Sadly, they caused her much sadness because of their gambling. This may have made her sick. She passed away on July 24, 1774, not long after her husband, Henry Fox.
Emily: A Large Family and New Beginnings
Emilia Mary Lennox was born on October 6, 1731. She lived until March 27, 1814. On February 7, 1747, she married James Fitzgerald. He was the 20th Earl of Kildare and later became the 1st Duke of Leinster. This made Emily the Duchess of Leinster.
Emily and James had many children, at least nineteen in total. Eleven of them grew up to be adults. Sadly, fourteen of her children passed away before she did. After her husband died in 1773, Emily surprised society in Ireland. In 1774, she married William Ogilvie in France. He had been the tutor for her children. Emily and William had four more children together. They returned from France in 1779.
Louisa: A Life of Care and Charity
Louise Augusta Lennox was born on December 5, 1743. When she was eight years old, both her father (in 1750) and mother (in 1751) passed away. As her father wished, Louisa went to Ireland to live with her older sister Emily.
In 1758, she married Thomas Conolly. He lived at Castletown in County Kildare. Louisa and Thomas did not have any children of their own. Louisa was very involved in helping others in Castletown. She helped build a school for teaching skills and other important buildings. After her husband passed away, she took care of his large estate.
Sarah: Royal Attention and Two Marriages
Sarah Lennox was raised in Ireland by her sister Emily. Her parents had passed away when she was only six years old.
The young Prince of Wales, who later became George III, noticed Sarah. After he became king, he hinted that he might want to marry her, but he never actually asked. In 1762, Sarah married Charles Bunbury. They did not have any children. Later, in 1776, Charles Bunbury divorced her.
In 1781, Lady Sarah had a much happier second marriage with Hon. George Napier. They had eight children together.
Cecilia: A Short Life
Cecily Margaret Lennox, also known as Cecilia, was born in 1750. Her parents passed away in 1750 and 1751, when she was only about a year old. Cecilia, along with her sisters Louisa and Sarah, was raised by her sister Emily in Ireland.
As a young woman, she became very ill with a serious sickness, possibly tuberculosis. Her older sisters and brothers tried to help her get better. They sent her to different places, including France, hoping she would recover. Sadly, she passed away in Paris on November 13, 1769, at the age of 19.
Other Family Members
Besides the four main Lennox sisters and Cecilia, who lived to be 19, there were other sisters who died as young children: Louisa Margaret (1725–1728), Anne (1726–1727), and Margaret (1739–1741). The Lennox sisters also had two brothers who grew up: Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735–1806) and Lord George Lennox (1737–1805). Two other brothers passed away when they were babies.
The Lennox Sisters on Screen
In 1999, a book about the Lennox sisters was made into a six-part TV show by the BBC. It was called Aristocrats.
