Sarah Lennox, Duchess of Richmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duchess of Richmond
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The Duke and the Duchess of Richmond, by Jonathan Richardson. This portrait was made at the request of the Duke's grandmother Louise de Kérouaille, who wanted a portrait of her grandson and his wife.
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| Born | 18 September 1705 |
| Died | 25 August 1751 (aged 45) |
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Sarah Lennox, Duchess of Richmond, was an important woman in 18th-century British society. She was born Sarah Cadogan on September 18, 1705. She served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Caroline from 1724 to 1737. Sarah was also the mother of the well-known Lennox sisters.
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Her Early Life and Marriage
Sarah Cadogan was born in The Hague. She was the oldest daughter of William Cadogan and Margaretta Cecilia Munter. Her father became the 1st Baron Cadogan of Reading in 1716 and the 1st Earl Cadogan in 1722.
Sarah grew up in a convent. When she was just 14 years old, she married Charles Lennox, Earl of March. Their wedding took place on December 4, 1719, in The Hague. This marriage was arranged by their fathers to settle a debt. After the wedding, Charles, who was 18, went on a long trip around Europe called the Grand Tour.
When Charles returned in 1722, he didn't want to meet Sarah at first. One day, he went to the theatre and saw a beautiful young woman. He asked who she was. Someone replied, "You must be new to London not to know the beautiful Lady March!" In 1723, Charles became the Duke of Richmond, and Sarah became the Duchess of Richmond. They had a very happy and loving marriage that many people knew about.
A Royal Courtier and Helper
Sarah was chosen to be a Lady of the Bedchamber for Caroline of Ansbach. Caroline was first the Princess of Wales and later became queen in 1727. Sarah kept her job even after Caroline became queen.
Her job paid £500 a year. Even though it was a very high position at court, she had daily duties. These included ordering meals and clothes for the queen. She also sent servants on errands.
Sarah was one of 21 important women who signed a special request. This request was given to King George II in 1735. It asked for a new hospital to be built for children who had been abandoned. This hospital was called the Foundling Hospital. Sarah signed the request on December 22, 1729. She was the first Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen to support this cause. Her husband also signed the official document for the hospital in 1739.
Collecting Shells for Goodwood
In the 1730s and 1740s, Sarah and her daughters loved collecting shells. Naval captains brought these shells back from their voyages to Portsmouth. Sarah and her daughters used the shells to create beautiful patterns. They used these patterns to decorate a special cave, called a grotto. This grotto was in the park of their family home in Sussex, Goodwood House.
Her Large Family
Sarah Lennox had 23 pregnancies during her life. From these, 12 children were born:
- Lady Georgiana Carolina Lennox (born March 27, 1723 – died July 24, 1774). She married Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland.
- Charles Lennox, Earl of March (born September 3, 1724 – died 1724).
- Lady Louisa Margaret Lennox (born November 15, 1725 – died May 1728).
- Lady Anne Lennox (born May 27, 1726 – died 1727).
- Charles Lennox, Earl of March (born September 9, 1730 – died November 1730).
- Lady Emilia Mary Lennox (born October 6, 1731 – died March 27, 1814). She first married James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster. Later, she married William Ogilvie and had children.
- Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (born February 22, 1735 – died December 29, 1806).
- Lord George Lennox (born November 29, 1737 – died March 25, 1805). He became a General.
- Lady Margaret Lennox (born November 16, 1739 – died January 10, 1741).
- Lady Louisa Augusta Lennox (born November 24, 1743 – died 1821). She married Thomas Connolly but did not have children.
- Lady Sarah Lennox (born February 14, 1745 – died August 1826). She first married Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet and had a daughter. She later married George Napier.
- Lady Cecilia Lennox (born February 28, 1750 – died November 21, 1769). She never married.
Sadly, only half of Sarah's children lived to become adults.
Sarah in Popular Culture
In 1999, the BBC created a six-part TV show about the lives of Sarah's daughters. The show was called Aristocrats. In this series, the Duchess of Richmond was played by actress Diane Fletcher.
