Margaret Child Villiers, Countess of Jersey facts for kids
Margaret Elizabeth Child Villiers, Countess of Jersey (born Leigh; 29 October 1849 – 22 May 1945) was an important English noblewoman. She was also an activist, a writer, and someone who wrote hymns. She was known as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) and a Justice of the Peace (JP).
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Who Was Margaret Elizabeth?
Margaret Elizabeth was the oldest child of William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh. She was born into a noble family.
Her Family Life
On 19 September 1872, Margaret married Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey. They had six children together:
- George Henry Robert Child Villiers, 8th Earl of Jersey (1873–1923)
- Lady Margaret Child Villiers (1874–1874), who sadly died as a baby.
- Lady Margaret Child Villiers (1875–1959), who married Walter Rice, 7th Baron Dynevor. They had children.
- Lady Mary Julia Child Villiers (1877–1933), who married Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford. They also had children.
- Lady Beatrice Child Villiers (1880–1970), who married Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany. They had children too.
- Hon. Arthur George Child Villiers (1883–1969)
Margaret's Work and Writings
Margaret Elizabeth was a very active person. She was involved in many different areas.
Leading the Victoria League
From 1901 to 1914, Margaret was the first president of the Victoria League. This organization worked to connect people across the British Empire.
Views on Women's Rights
Interestingly, Margaret was known for being against women getting the right to vote. This was a big topic during her lifetime.
Her Books and Hymns
Margaret was a talented writer. She wrote many things, including:
- Travel articles about her journeys.
- Plays for children.
- Poems and hymns.
In 1871, a collection of her hymns and poems was published. It was called Hymns and Poems for very Little Children. A second book with the same name came out in 1875. Some of her hymns were even included in school hymn books.
She also wrote two history books:
- A brief history of Osterley Park (1920), which was about her husband's family home.
- Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life (1922), which shared her experiences living through the Victorian era.
Supporting Libraries
Margaret also helped to open new libraries. In 1903, she laid the first stone for Brentford Library. Five years later, in 1908, she officially opened Hove Library.
Later Life and Legacy
Margaret Elizabeth received a special honor in 1927. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This is a high award given for public service.
Her husband, Lord Jersey, passed away in May 1915 at the age of 70. Margaret lived for 30 more years after him. She died in May 1945 at Middleton Park, Oxfordshire, when she was 95 years old.
