Emily Lamb

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Emily Lamb, Countess Cowper, painted by William Owen , ca.1810

Emily Lamb (born April 21, 1787 , † October 11, 1869 at Brocket Hall ) was an English noblewoman and a leading lady in London's high society of the Regency era. Her brother was Prime Minister Lord Melbourne and her husband was Prime Minister Lord Palmerston .

Lamb family

Emily Lamb was the daughter of Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne (1745-1828) and his wife Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne , née Millbanke. Since her mother had many affairs, it is unclear who her biological father was; it could have been George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont . Emily was the fourth of five children. The Lamb family had been politically active since the mid-19th century and reached the height of their influence with the generation of Emily Lamb.

In 1781 Emily Lamb's father was appointed Viscount Melbourne . Her oldest brother, William, was Prime Minister of England twice, and another brother, George Lamb , was a playwright and journalist . The Lambs were closely associated with the Whig Party and were close friends of Queen Victoria .

First marriage

At the age of 18, Emily Lamb married Lord Cowper, who was nine years her senior. Cowper was the largest landowner in Hertfordshire . He was not interested in politics and was a Fellow of the Royal Society . He was not ambitious, was considered boring, and spoke extremely slowly, which contrasted greatly with the qualities of his wife. Lady Cowper soon devoted herself passionately to her role in the elegant world of London and became one of the dreaded patronesses of the extremely exclusive Almack’s Club.

In Almack’s , Lady Cowper was seen more and more in the company of Viscount Palmerston, who was nicknamed Cupid because of his various love affairs . Palmerston became a permanent fixture of their parties and salons. When Lord Cowper became seriously ill and his health deteriorated in general, Emily Lamb and Palmerston fell into love. This brought Palmerston, originally a Tory , in contact with respected Whigs, especially Emily Lamb's brother, so that he soon switched sides in 1830.

Marriage to Palmerston

Lord Cowper died in 1837, two days after Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. This cleared the way for Emily Lamb and Lord Palmerston to marry, but her age - she was 52, he 55 - was cause for concern. The matter was discussed with the Queen, who gave her consent, and they were married on December 16, 1839.

The couple initially settled in Broadlands and the relationship was considered extremely happy. At the age of 62, she refused to travel alone with her old friend and admirer Frederick Gerald Byng ( Poodle Byng ) so that Palmerston would not become jealous. Her son-in-law Lord Shaftesbury reported:

“ His attentions to Lady Palmerston, both of them advanced in age, were that of perpetual advertising. The feeling was mutual, and I regularly saw them go out together in the mornings to plant some trees, and I almost believed they were alive to eat the fruit or sit together in the shade. "

- Sarah Bolton : Famous English Statesmen of Queen Victoria's Reign. P. 85

During their marriage, Lady Palmerston continued to play an active social role as a salon lady. Their events were eagerly attended by foreign diplomats. Lord Palmerston used to encourage his wife to circulate his political ideas at the meetings and then heard her report the reactions of the diplomats. So he unofficially tested the mood among the diplomats before publicly admitting an opinion.

Lord Palmerston died in 1865 and his wife four years later in the Brocket Hall estate . She had five children from her marriage to Lord Cowper. It is believed that Palmerston was the father of her daughter Emily.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Philip Guedalla: Palmerston: 1784-1865 . GP Putnam's Sons, New York 1927, p. 233.
  2. ↑ Philip Guedalla: Palmerston: 1784-1865 , p. 57
  3. ↑ Ellen Moers: The Dandy: Brummell to Beerbohm . University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln 1960, ISBN 0-8032-8101-3 , pp. 43-45.
  4. ↑ Philip Guedalla: Palmerston: 1784-1865 . GP Putnam's Sons, New York 1927, pp. 118-119.
  5. ^ Sarah Bolton: Famous English Statesmen of Queen Victoria's Reign . Boston. CJ Peter's and Sons 1891. p. 85
  6. ^ Sarah Bolton: Famous English Statesmen of Queen Victoria's Reign . Boston. CJ Peter's and Sons 1891. pp. 86-87

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personal data
SURNAME Lamb, Emily
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cowper, Emily, Lady Cowper; Temple, Emily, Lady Palmerston
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British noblewoman and salon lady
DATE OF BIRTH April 21, 1787
DATE OF DEATH October 11, 1869
Place of death Brocket Hall