Lady Lucy Talks Georgiana

They say that the means of differentiating celebrities from historical figures is that historical figures' names will last forever where as celebrities ignite and then fizzle out, gradually becoming forgotten through time.  Georgiana was an undeniable celebrity and did sort of fade into obscurity, but was never forgotten!

Evidence of this: Lady Lucy Cavendish's personal diary.  This Victorian lady, like our Georgie, married into the Cavendish clan.  It was only a matter of time before their paths would cross, so to speak.

Denise at Lady Lucy Cavendish Diary Blog was kind enough to inform me when Georgiana's name appeared in the diary.  She is quite the blog-mistress, putting all the diary entries in blog form for our convenience and for free!  Methinks, I need a few more rare books to be put into blog form.  In 1871 lady Lucy wrote of Georgiana's child-like enthusiasm, expressed in a letter soon after her marriage.

I can't help but be reminded of Georgiana's book, The Sylph which is a reflective semi-autobiographical tale about a country girl marrying into the aristocracy when Lucy talks of "how there was no fear but that she would be happy in a simple country life." I especially enjoyed the easily offended Victorian sensibilities being triggered at the thought of Bess and the Duke!  Check it out here.

Georgiana's Grandchildren

When Georgiana died in 1806 only one of her three (four, including her illegitimate daughter Eliza Courtney) children were married.  Georgiana lived to see her eldest daughter, Little G, marry and begin having children.  Little G would end up bearing twelve children, all who would survive until adulthood.  Quite amazing, especially when one considers how difficult it had been for her mother to have children.  Georgiana got to play the proud grandmother to Little G's first four children but was never to meet her other sixteen grandchildren.

Little G's Boundless fertility made up for her brother's lack of any offspring; Hart never married.  Harryo, the middle child, would have four children with her husband.  Her illegitimate daughter, Eliza Courtney married well and had four surviving children.  Let's meet some of them.

George Howard (1802-1864) followed in his uncle's footsteps and was more interested in his books and achievements than settling down to married life.

Lady Georgiana Howard (1804-1860) married a hunk.

Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard (1806-1868) was born shortly after her grandmother's death and seems to of inherited many of her grandmother's qualities.  She was a society hostess and BFF to Queen Victoria, serving as one of her Mistresses of the Robes.

Lady Blanche Georgiana Howard (1812- 1840) would follow in her grandmother's footsteps by marrying a future Duke of Devonshire.  Sadly though, she didn't live to become a Duchess of Devonshire for her husband received the title after her death.  Her uncle Hart outlived her.

Lady Elizabeth Dorothy Anne Howard (1816-1891) married the son of Earl Grey, Georgiana's former lover.

Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville (1815-1891) became a famous politician whose career spanned over half a century.  Not too surprising, when you consider his lineage. 

Eliza Ellice (1818-1899) despite being descended from an illegitimate child found herself a peeress as the Viscountess Hampden of Glynde.

Sir Charles Henry Ellice (1823-1888) was a successful army general.

Hunk Alert: George, Baron Dover

SWM, Politician, lover of humanities seeking fellow lover of the humanties
Likes: Art, writing, keeping up with friends

Many were surprised by my decision to go into politics, for I have a much keener interest in the liberal arts.  However I like to use my position to support those things which I enjoy so much.  I am a big fan of art and literature.  I also have a firm belief for fighting for the 'little guy' and tend to be labeled as a liberal politician.  I'm also quite 'green,' and was appointed First Commissioner of Woods and Forests.

It is only natural for me to want to find a like-minded companion.  While I'm not necessarily interested in a politically-minded lady, a liberally-minded wife who enjoys the every-day fireside chat about the latest book would be wonderful.  If you also have an appreciate for the great outdoors, I'm as good as yours!

Yay or Nay? Earl of Charlemont

I thought I throw you all a wild card last week and the results were kinder than I expected.  Although I did expect a overwhelming rejection of Matilda Stoughton de Jaudenes' potted plant hat, you were all able to see beyond that and her her over-accessorizing, and gave her a Yay.  She could have used a best friend to slap the extra baubles out of her hand (or hair, really) couldn't she?  Enough of that frivolity, it's been a while since we examined some menswear, hasn't it?

Pompeo Batoni paints James Caulfeild (1753) in his colorful gold-trimmed 'I'm-traveling-in-Italy outfit.'  Yay or Nay?

[Yale Center for British Art]