Hariot Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava
Encyclopedia
Hariot Georgina Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava VA
CI
DBE
(5 February 1843 – 25 October 1936) was a British peeress
, known for her success in the role of "diplomatic wife", and for leading an initiative to improve medical care for women in British India.
. On 23 October 1862 she married her distant cousin, the 5th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye
and they later had three daughters and six sons.
Her husband was created Earl of Dufferin in 1871 and she and their children travelled with him to Canada
a year later, upon his appointment as Governor General
. Lady Dufferin was one of the most popular of governor-general's wives, and was starting to build up her reputation as "the most effective diplomatic wife of her generation". (ODNB) She was sad to leave when the earl's term ended in 1878.
Next he was ambassador to Russia from 1879–81, and to the Ottoman Empire
from 1881-84, where she received the Grand Crescent of the Turkish Order of the Chefakat in 1883, followed by the Persian Order of the Sun
in 1887. In both St. Petersburg and Constantinople
, as at all their embassies, the couple were known for their hospitality.
Lady Dufferin then went with her husband to India
in 1884 when he was appointed as the country's viceroy, and set up the National Association for supplying Female Medical Aid to the Women of India (known as the Countess of Dufferin Fund) a year later. This association recruited and trained women doctors, midwives and nurses to improve the situation for Indian women in illness and in child-bearing. As well as the numerous 'Lady Dufferin' hospitals and clinics which were established, some of which still exist under that name, there are medical colleges and midwifery schools named after her. This involved her in a great deal of fund-raising and is sometimes referred to as her zenana
work; it was celebrated by Rudyard Kipling
in his Song of the Women. She received the Crown of India in 1884 and the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert in 1889.
When the earl's term in India ended in 1888, they travelled back to their home at Clandeboye
in Ireland
and her husband was elevated in the peerage as the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava that same year. He continued his ambassadorial career in Europe
and the marchioness accompanied him to Italy
and France
. She published her memoirs, based on the letters she had written to her mother: Our Viceregal Life in India (1889) and My Canadian Journal (1891). They retired to Clandeboye in 1896.
After her husband died in 1902, she spent much of her time in a relatively modest house in Chelsea, London
, economising when possible to help her sons. She wrote My Russian and Turkish Journals (1916) and was made a DBE
in 1917. None of her sons outlived her, though two daughters did. Two sons died in infancy, two in war, and her youngest, Frederick
, was killed in an accident in 1930. She died in London in 1936 and was buried at Clandeboye.
's heritage.
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted in on 10 February 1862 by Queen Victoria, and enlarged on 10 October 1864; 15 November 1865; and 15 March 1880. No awards were made after the death of Queen Victoria....
CI
Order of the Crown of India
The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is an order in the British honours system.The Order was established by Queen Victoria in 1878, when she became Empress of India. The Order is open only to women; no new appointments have been made after the Partition of India in 1947...
DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(5 February 1843 – 25 October 1936) was a British peeress
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
, known for her success in the role of "diplomatic wife", and for leading an initiative to improve medical care for women in British India.
Biography
Born Hariot Georgina Rowan-Hamilton, she was the eldest of the seven children of Archibald Rowan-Hamilton of Killyleagh CastleKillyleagh Castle
Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. It dominates the small village and is believed to be the oldest inhabited castle in the country, with parts dating back to 1180. It follows the architectural style of a Loire Valley château, being redesigned...
. On 23 October 1862 she married her distant cousin, the 5th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC was a British public servant and prominent member of Victorian society...
and they later had three daughters and six sons.
Her husband was created Earl of Dufferin in 1871 and she and their children travelled with him to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
a year later, upon his appointment as Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
. Lady Dufferin was one of the most popular of governor-general's wives, and was starting to build up her reputation as "the most effective diplomatic wife of her generation". (ODNB) She was sad to leave when the earl's term ended in 1878.
Next he was ambassador to Russia from 1879–81, and to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
from 1881-84, where she received the Grand Crescent of the Turkish Order of the Chefakat in 1883, followed by the Persian Order of the Sun
Order of the Sun
The Order of the Sun is the highest award bestowed by the nation of Peru to commend notable civil and military merit...
in 1887. In both St. Petersburg and Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, as at all their embassies, the couple were known for their hospitality.
Lady Dufferin then went with her husband to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1884 when he was appointed as the country's viceroy, and set up the National Association for supplying Female Medical Aid to the Women of India (known as the Countess of Dufferin Fund) a year later. This association recruited and trained women doctors, midwives and nurses to improve the situation for Indian women in illness and in child-bearing. As well as the numerous 'Lady Dufferin' hospitals and clinics which were established, some of which still exist under that name, there are medical colleges and midwifery schools named after her. This involved her in a great deal of fund-raising and is sometimes referred to as her zenana
Zenana
Zenana , refers to the part of a house belonging to a Muslim family in the Middle East and South Asia reserved for the women of the household. The Zenana are the inner apartments of a house in which the women of the family live...
work; it was celebrated by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
in his Song of the Women. She received the Crown of India in 1884 and the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert in 1889.
When the earl's term in India ended in 1888, they travelled back to their home at Clandeboye
Clandeboye Estate
The Clandeboye Estate is a country estate located in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, outside Belfast. Covering , it contains woodlands, formal and walled gardens, lawns, a lake, and of farmland...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and her husband was elevated in the peerage as the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava that same year. He continued his ambassadorial career in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the marchioness accompanied him to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. She published her memoirs, based on the letters she had written to her mother: Our Viceregal Life in India (1889) and My Canadian Journal (1891). They retired to Clandeboye in 1896.
After her husband died in 1902, she spent much of her time in a relatively modest house in Chelsea, London
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, economising when possible to help her sons. She wrote My Russian and Turkish Journals (1916) and was made a DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1917. None of her sons outlived her, though two daughters did. Two sons died in infancy, two in war, and her youngest, Frederick
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 3rd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 3rd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava DSO, PC , styled Lord Frederick Blackwood between 1888 and 1918, was a British soldier and politician.-Background:...
, was killed in an accident in 1930. She died in London in 1936 and was buried at Clandeboye.
Legacy
A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected in Winnipeg, Manitoba by the province to commemorate her role in ManitobaManitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
's heritage.
Sources
- Burke's Peerage & Gentry
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- The Countess of Dufferin's Fund
Further reading
- Kipling's Song of the Women
- Daniel Sanjiv Roberts, ‘Merely Birds of Passage’: Lady Hariot Dufferin’s travel writings and medical work in India, 1884–1888, in Women's History Review (July 2006)
- Harold NicolsonHarold NicolsonSir Harold George Nicolson KCVO CMG was an English diplomat, author, diarist and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West, their unusual relationship being described in their son's book, Portrait of a Marriage.-Early life:Nicolson was born in Tehran, Persia, the younger son of...
, Helen's Tower (Constable 1937) - a biography of Lord Dufferin, written by Lady Dufferin's nephew