Mary Arabella Stewart, Countess of Galloway facts for kids

Arabella Stewart, Countess of Galloway (born 26 April 1850 – died 18 August 1903), was an important lady in British society. Her original name was Lady Mary Arabella Arthur Cecil. She became the Countess of Galloway when she married Alan Stewart, 10th Earl of Galloway.

Her Family and a Famous Brother

Arabella came from a very important family. Her father was James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury. A Marquess is a high-ranking noble title, just below a Duke. Her mother was Lady Mary Catherine Sackville-West.

Arabella had an older half-brother who became very famous. His name was Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for many years, leading the country from 1886 to 1892, and again from 1895 to 1902. This means he was the head of the government, similar to a president in some countries.

Marriage to the Earl

Arabella married Alan Stewart on 25 January 1872. At that time, he was known as Lord Garlies. A year later, he inherited his father's titles and became the 10th Earl of Galloway.

Before becoming an Earl, Alan Stewart was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wigtownshire. He belonged to the Conservative Party, which was the same political party as Arabella's famous half-brother, the Prime Minister.

Arabella and Alan Stewart did not have any children together.

Later Years and a Special Portrait

Alan Stewart, the Earl of Galloway, passed away in 1901 when he was 65 years old. His brother, Randolph Henry Stewart, became the next Earl.

A special photograph of Arabella, the Countess, was taken in the 1870s by a photographer named John Watkins. This portrait is now kept in the National Gallery in London, which is a famous art museum.

After her husband died, Arabella, who was then called the Dowager Countess, had a house in London. However, she passed away at a place called "Cuffnells" in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, on 18 August 1903. She was 53 years old and died from pneumonia, a lung infection.