Sarah Villiers, Countess of Jersey

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Sarah Villiers, Countess of Jersey, painted by Alfred Edward Chalon
The first quadrille at Almack’s , drawing with Lady Jersey (2nd from left)

Sarah Sophia Child Villiers, Countess of Jersey (March 4, 1785 - January 26, 1867 in London ) was an English noblewoman .

resume

Sarah Fane, called Sally , was the eldest daughter of John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland and his wife Sarah Anne Child . Her mother was the only child of Robert Child , the majority owner of Bank Child & Co. This had tried to break the relationship, which is why Sarah Fanes parents had fled to Gretna Green in 1782 to get married there. As a result, Child changed his will and stipulated that the couple's eldest daughter or son should receive his property. In any case, he wanted to prevent his son-in-law from enjoying the money. This will came into effect even before Sarah Fane was born, so she was born a rich woman. Sarah Fane inherited the Osterley Park family home and became the main owner of the bank.

In 1804 Sarah Fane married George Child-Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey , who was allowed to add Child to his surname with royal permission. Her mother-in-law, Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey, was one of the most famous mistresses of King George IV when he was Prince of Wales . Her sister Maria married John Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon , a brother of Caroline Lamb .

Lady Jersey was one of the patronesses of Almack's and one of the leading people in the London high society of the Regency -Epoche. In reference to her talkativeness, which is known throughout the city, she was nicknamed Silence . A contemporary witness wrote about her in his memoirs:

“ Lady Jersey's demeanor [...] was that of a tragedy queen from the theater. While trying to look sublime, she made a fool of herself for being incredibly rude and her manners being poorly brought up. "

- Joseph Grego : The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow 1810-1860

Another contemporary, on the other hand, described her as “ lovable, interested in politics, linguistically adept ” and as a “ brisk, intelligent ” woman “ with the greatest sense of humor I have ever seen in a woman ”.

Sarah Jersey survived not only her husband, but six of their children and died in 1867 in her town house at 38 Berkeley Square in the City of Westminster , Middlesex , now part of London. She was immortalized as Zenobia in Benjamin Disraeli's novel Endymion .

Political activities

For many years Lady Jersey was an avid Whig supporter . She was just as passionate about the cause of Caroline , the Princess of Wales, when the then Prince of Wales tried in 1820/1821 to legally get rid of his wife. Lady Jersey herself was then personally attacked by the royal magazine John Bull , which led to a lawsuit in court. Towards the end of the 1820s it changed its political orientation and henceforth supported the politics of the Tories under Wellington and Peel . In the 1840s, her political influence waned, and she was overtaken by other salon ladies, especially her old rival Emily Lamb, Lady Cowper , wife of Prime Minister Lord Palmerston .

children

Lady Jersey and her husband George Child-Villiers had seven children:

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Rachel Knowles: "Sarah Child Villiers, Countess of Jersey" on regencyhistory.net
  2. ^ Joseph Grego: The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow 1810-1860. London: John Nimmo 1889. 2 vols. Page unknown ( Memento of the original from October 31, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.dukesofbuckingham.org.uk

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Villiers, Sarah, Countess of Jersey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Villiers, Sarah Sophia Chila, Countess of Jersey
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British nobles
DATE OF BIRTH March 4, 1785
DATE OF DEATH January 26, 1867
Place of death London