Mary Butler, Duchess of Ormonde facts for kids
Mary Butler (born 1664, died November 19, 1733) was an important lady in British history. She was the second wife of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde. He was a powerful nobleman. Mary became a Duchess when she married him.
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Early Life and Marriage
Mary Butler was born Mary Somerset. Her father was Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort. Her mother was Mary Capel. Mary grew up in a very important family.
She married James Butler on August 3, 1685. The wedding took place at St. Michael's Church in Gloucestershire. This was the same church where her mother was buried.
Before marrying Mary, James Butler was called the Earl of Ossory. His first wife, Lady Anne Hyde, had passed away in January 1685. They had one daughter, Lady Mary Butler, who died as a baby.
Becoming a Duchess
In 1688, James's grandfather passed away. This meant James inherited the title of Duke. He became the Duke of Ormonde. Because of this, his wife Mary became the Duchess of Ormonde.
That same year, James was also given a special honor. He became a Knight of the Order of the Garter. This is a very old and important group of knights in Britain.
Family Life
The Duke and Duchess of Ormonde had three children together:
- Thomas, Earl of Ossory (who died in 1689)
- Lady Mary Butler (who died in 1713). She married John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham. They did not have any children.
- Lady Elizabeth Butler (who died in 1750)
A famous artist named Sir Godfrey Kneller painted a portrait of Mary. The painting showed her with her son, the Earl of Ossory.
Life at Court
In 1702, Mary became a Lady of the Bedchamber. This was an important role in the royal court. She served the new queen, Queen Anne of Great Britain. A Lady of the Bedchamber helped the queen with her daily life and duties.
Later Years and Exile
In 1715, Mary's husband, the Duke, faced a big problem. He supported a group called the Jacobites. This group wanted to put a different king on the throne. Because of his support, the British Parliament took away his titles. This is called "forfeiting" titles. He was forced to leave the country and live in exile.
It was later decided that only his English and Scottish titles were taken away. His Irish titles were not. These Irish titles were later given to his brother, Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran.
Mary, the Duchess, is believed to have had no contact with her husband during his long time in exile. Despite this, she was buried with him and their children. They rest in the family vault at Westminster Abbey.
