Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Somerset
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Somerset (26 January 1667–24 November 1722), major heiress, was born Lady Elizabeth Percy, the only surviving child of the 11th Earl of Northumberland
and deemed Baroness Percy in her own right. She carried the earldom of Northumberland to her son Algernon. Lady Elizabeth was one of the closest personal friends of Queen Anne, which led Jonathan Swift
to direct at her one of his sharpest satires, The Windsor Prophecy in which she was named 'Carrots'.
She married firstly, Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle
, the heir of the 2nd Duke of Newcastle
on 27 March 1679, but he died the following year.
She married secondly, Thomas Thynne
, "Tom of Ten Thousand" due to his great wealth, a relative of the 1st Viscount Weymouth, on 15 November 1681, but he was murdered the following February by Swedish
Count Karl Johann von Königsmark using a gang after gossip said her marriage was unhappy and Königsmark began to pursue her.
Five months after the death of Thomas Thynne she married on 30 May 1682 Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
, and so became Duchess of Somerset. She was Mistress of the Robes
to Queen Anne
from 1710 to 1714.
before him, Somerset used his wife's position as confidante to advance his career. Both of them became the target of violent verbal attacks, especially from Swift who hoped to influence the Queen through Abigail Masham, the obvious rival for the position of confidante. Apparently against Mrs. Masham's wish he published a violent diatribe , The Windsor Prophecy, against the Duchess, referred to as " Carrots " ( a common nickname derived from the Duchess' red hair). Swift explicitly accused the Duchess of murdering her second husband, and wildly suggested she might poison the Queen " I have been told, they assassin when young and poison when old". The Queen was outraged and from then on refused to consider Swift for preferment; but insisted on retaining the Duchess.
The Duke's pride and arrogance eventually wore out the Queen's patience and he was dismissed his Court offices early in 1712. The Queen's doctor , Sir David Hamilton
, advised her to keep the Duchess in her service " for her own quiet ": and the Queen agreed. The Duchess remained with the Queen to the end by which time Lord Dartmouth described her as " much the greatest favourite."
, Petworth House
, Syon House
and Northumberland House
in London
.
Joceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland
Josceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland, 5th Baron Percy was an English peer.Percy was the eldest son of Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland and his second wife, Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk...
and deemed Baroness Percy in her own right. She carried the earldom of Northumberland to her son Algernon. Lady Elizabeth was one of the closest personal friends of Queen Anne, which led Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
to direct at her one of his sharpest satires, The Windsor Prophecy in which she was named 'Carrots'.
Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle
She married firstly, Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle
Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle
Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle was the only son and heir of Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle but died before his father at 21; the Dukedom became extinct on his father's death but was revived for Henry's brother-in-law, John Holles, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.Henry is remembered mainly to...
, the heir of the 2nd Duke of Newcastle
Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle
Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, KG, PC , styled Viscount Mansfield until 1676, was the only son of the William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and his first wife, Elizabeth Basset. His maternal grandparents were William Basset and Judith Austen, daughter of Thomas...
on 27 March 1679, but he died the following year.
Thomas Thynne
She married secondly, Thomas Thynne
Thomas Thynne (landowner)
Thomas Thynne was an English landowner of the family that is now headed by the Marquess of Bath and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1670 to 1682. He went by the nickname "Tom of Ten Thousand" due to his great wealth...
, "Tom of Ten Thousand" due to his great wealth, a relative of the 1st Viscount Weymouth, on 15 November 1681, but he was murdered the following February by Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Count Karl Johann von Königsmark using a gang after gossip said her marriage was unhappy and Königsmark began to pursue her.
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
Five months after the death of Thomas Thynne she married on 30 May 1682 Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset , sometimes referred to as the "Proud Duke". The son of Charles Seymour, 2nd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, and Elizabeth Alington , he succeeded his brother Francis Seymour, 5th Duke of Somerset, to the dukedom when the latter was shot in 1678...
, and so became Duchess of Somerset. She was Mistress of the Robes
Mistress of the Robes
The Mistress of the Robes is the senior lady of the British Royal Household. Formerly responsible for the Queen's clothes and jewellery, the post now has the responsibility for arranging the rota of attendance of the Ladies in Waiting on the Queen, along with various duties at State ceremonies...
to Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
from 1710 to 1714.
Political influence
The Duke and Duchess were among the Queen's oldest friends, with whom she had taken refuge in 1692 after a violent quarrel with William III and Mary. LIke the Duke of MarlboroughDuke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
before him, Somerset used his wife's position as confidante to advance his career. Both of them became the target of violent verbal attacks, especially from Swift who hoped to influence the Queen through Abigail Masham, the obvious rival for the position of confidante. Apparently against Mrs. Masham's wish he published a violent diatribe , The Windsor Prophecy, against the Duchess, referred to as " Carrots " ( a common nickname derived from the Duchess' red hair). Swift explicitly accused the Duchess of murdering her second husband, and wildly suggested she might poison the Queen " I have been told, they assassin when young and poison when old". The Queen was outraged and from then on refused to consider Swift for preferment; but insisted on retaining the Duchess.
The Duke's pride and arrogance eventually wore out the Queen's patience and he was dismissed his Court offices early in 1712. The Queen's doctor , Sir David Hamilton
David Hamilton
David Hamilton or Dave Hamilton or Davey Hamilton may refer to:*David Hamilton of Cadzow, 3rd Laird of Cadzow Scottish nobleman*David Hamilton Scottish architect...
, advised her to keep the Duchess in her service " for her own quiet ": and the Queen agreed. The Duchess remained with the Queen to the end by which time Lord Dartmouth described her as " much the greatest favourite."
Reputation
Elizabeth's influence on the Queen, together with her colourful past, made many enemies : like her husband she seems to have been proud, although Dartmouth called her " the best bred as well as the best born person in England ". She showed great skill in dealing with the Queen, her secret, it was said being , never to press the Queen to do anything, in contrast to Abigail Masham who constantly pressed for favours.Estates and residences
Lady Elizabeth Percy brought immense estates to her husbands and in addition her residences: Alnwick CastleAlnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. It is the residence of the Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest, and renovated and remodelled a number of times. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:Alnwick...
, Petworth House
Petworth House
Petworth House in Petworth, West Sussex, England, is a late 17th-century mansion, rebuilt in 1688 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, and altered in the 1870s by Anthony Salvin...
, Syon House
Syon House
Syon House, with its 200-acre park, is situated in west London, England. It belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is now his family's London residence...
and Northumberland House
Northumberland House
Northumberland House was a large Jacobean mansion in London, which was so called because for most of its history it was the London residence of the Percy family, who were the Earls and later Dukes of Northumberland, and one of England's richest and most prominent aristocratic dynasties for many...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Issue
Lady Elizabeth had four children:- Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of SomersetAlgernon Seymour, 7th Duke of SomersetGeneral Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset was the son of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset and his wife, Elizabeth...
(11 November 1684 – 7 February 1749) - Lady Elizabeth Seymour (1685 – 2 April 1734)
- Lady Catherine Seymour (1693 – 9 April 1731)
- Lady Anne Seymour (1709 – 27 November 1722)
Ancestry
Sources
- British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, Blenheim manuscripts - Chatsworth HouseChatsworth HouseChatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, Devonshire manuscripts - West SussexWest SussexWest Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
Record Office, Petworth House archives, Somerset papers