Isabella Seymour-Conway

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Isabella Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford, portrait by John Hoppner around 1800

Isabella Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford (born the Hon. Isabella Anne Ingram ; born July 7, 1759 in London , † April 12, 1834 at Ragley Hall ) was a British noblewoman and mistress of King George IV of Great Britain .

Life

Isabella Anne was the eldest of five daughters of the Whig politician Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount of Irvine (1726–1778), from his marriage to Frances Shepheard (1733–1807). Isabella's upbringing, called Bella in the family , was closely monitored by her parents. Isabella was considered precocious and extremely intelligent. On May 20, 1776, Isabella married in London Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford (1743-1822), the eldest son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford, and Isabella Fitzroy. The marriage had a son: Francis Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford (1777-1842), who married Maria Emilia Fagniani (1775-1856) in 1798.

Isabella Seymour-Conway was an elegant and tall woman whose beauty caught the attention of Prince Regent George (1762-1830). Her husband wasn't particularly happy about the Prince of Wales making advances to his wife, so he and his family moved to Ireland . However, this increased the prince's affection for the Marchioness of Hertford, who became his mistress in 1807. In the years that followed, the Prince of Wales was a regular guest at Hertford House , the family's London townhouse, as well as at the Ragley Hall family residence in Warwickshire . The Seymour-Conway couple were among the supporters of the Tories and influenced the Prince Regent for their cause. The liaison ended in 1819 when George turned to a new favorite, Elizabeth Conyngham, Countess of Conyngham (1769–1861).

See also

literature

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