Mary Hervey facts for kids
Mary Hervey, Lady Hervey (born Lepell; around 1700 – 2 September 1768) was an English lady who worked at the royal court. She was known for her intelligence and charm.
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Early Life and Family Background
Mary Lepell was born around 1700. Her father was Brigadier-general Nicholas Wedig Lepell, and her mother was Mary Brooke. Her father was born in Germany. He became a British citizen in 1699. He was a high-ranking officer in the army, becoming a brigadier-general in 1710. He even led British forces in Spain for a few years.
In 1715, Mary became a maid of honour to Queen Caroline. This meant she was a lady-in-waiting who helped the Queen. An interesting story about her early life is that her father supposedly made her a "cornet" (a junior officer rank) in his army regiment when she was a baby! She even received pay for many years, even after she became a maid of honour.
A Popular Figure at Court
Mary Lepell was very popular at court. She was known for her quick wit and beauty. Many famous writers and poets of the time, like Pope and Gay, wrote poems praising her. Even Horace Walpole, a well-known writer, admired her greatly. People respected her good sense and kind nature.
Marriage and Children
Mary Lepell married John Hervey on April 21, 1720. He later became the 2nd Baron Hervey. Their marriage was initially kept a secret. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, another famous writer, noted how much affection they showed each other.
Mary and John Hervey had eight children:
- Lady Mary Hervey (born around 1720)
- Hon. George William Hervey (1721–1775), who later became the 2nd Earl of Bristol.
- Lady Lepell Hervey (1723–1780)
- Hon. Augustus John Hervey (1724–1779), who later became the 3rd Earl of Bristol.
- Hon. Frederick Augustus Hervey (1730–1803), who later became the 4th Earl of Bristol.
- General Hon. William Hervey (1732–1815)
- Lady Amelia Caroline Nassau Hervey (1734–1814)
- Lady Caroline Hervey (1736–1819)
Mary Hervey was a strong supporter of the Stuarts, a royal family line. Even though she suffered from gout, she remained charming and attractive throughout her life.
Later Life and Legacy
Mary Hervey passed away on September 2, 1768, at the age of 68. She was buried at Ickworth in Suffolk. Her friend Horace Walpole wrote the words on her tombstone.
Lady Hervey was also a talented letter writer. Her letters show her lively and intelligent personality. Some of her letters were published after her death, giving us a glimpse into her thoughts and the times she lived in.
There are several portraits of Lady Hervey that you can see today. Two of them are at Ickworth, a historic house owned by the National Trust. Another portrait, painted by Allan Ramsay, was once part of the famous Strawberry Hill collection.
