Mary Darcy, Countess of Holderness facts for kids
Mary Darcy, Countess of Holderness (born around 1721 – died October 13, 1801), was an important lady in British society. She was born Mary Doublet and later became the wife of Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness.
Mary was the daughter of Francis Doublet and Constantia Van-der-Beck. She married the Earl of Holderness in 1743.
Mary's Family Life
Mary and the Earl of Holderness had three children together. Sadly, only one of their children lived to be an adult.
Their children were:
- George Darcy, Lord Darcy and Conyers (1745-1747)
- Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcy and Conyers (born and died 1750)
- Lady Amelia Darcy (1754-1784)
Lady Amelia Darcy married Francis Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen. They had children together. Later, Amelia married John "Mad Jack" Byron. He was the father of the famous poet, Lord Byron. Amelia and John Byron had one daughter named Augusta Leigh.
Life at Court
From 1770 until her death in 1801, the Countess of Holderness had a special role. She was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Queen Charlotte was the wife of King George III of the United Kingdom. A Lady of the Bedchamber was a trusted helper and companion to the Queen.
Mary and Her Granddaughter
In 1777, a writer named Horace Walpole mentioned a family disagreement. It involved Amelia and her husband helping a young couple who had run away together. Because of this, Mary, the Countess, was said to have been very upset with her daughter.
Amelia died in 1784. After Amelia's death, her daughter, Augusta Leigh, was mostly raised by her grandmother, the Countess of Holderness. The Countess cared for Augusta until she passed away in 1801.
Interests and Legacy
A famous artist named Jean-Étienne Liotard painted a portrait of the Countess in 1745. This painting helps us remember what she looked like.
The Countess also supported the arts. She was a patron of the poet William Mason, who died in 1797. This means she helped him with money or encouragement. After her death, many of her belongings, including paintings, were sold in London in 1802.
