Elizabeth, Countess de Grammont
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth, Countess de Grammont (1640 Strabane
, County Tyrone, Ireland - 3 June 1708) was a British courtier and a French lady in waiting. She was one of the Windsor Beauties
, painted by Sir Peter Lely
. She was Dame du Palais to Maria Theresa of Spain
.
She married in London Philibert, Count de Grammont, a French exile at the English court. "La belle Hamilton" was one of the great beauties of the English court, and was, according to her brother's optimistic account, able to fix the count's affections. Grammont had courted her for some time and it was understood that they would be married. When Grammont where given permission to return to France, however, he left in a haste, giving the impression that he would not honor his intention to marry Hamilton. Her brothers therefore stopped him on his way and pressured him to return and marry her
She followed her spouse to France in 1669, where she was made Dame du Palais to the French queen. She was a woman of considerable wit, and held her own at the court of Louis XIV
, but her husband pursued his gallant exploits to the close of a long life, being, said Ninon de l'Enclos
, the only old man who could affect the follies of youth without being ridiculous. She was pointed out as a client to La Voisin, and was thereby incriminated in the affaire des poisons
in 1679. In 1696, her spouse was afflicted with a grave illness, and after he recovered, he turned to a religious life, in which she followed him. she died one year after being widowed.
). She married Philibert, Count de Grammont, a French nobleman, in 1664; they had children:
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
, County Tyrone, Ireland - 3 June 1708) was a British courtier and a French lady in waiting. She was one of the Windsor Beauties
Windsor Beauties
The Windsor beauties are a famous collection of paintings by Sir Peter Lely, painted in the early to mid 1660s.They were originally housed in the Queen's bedchamber in Windsor Castle...
, painted by Sir Peter Lely
Peter Lely
Sir Peter Lely was a painter of Dutch origin, whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court.-Life:...
. She was Dame du Palais to Maria Theresa of Spain
Maria Theresa of Spain
Maria Theresa of Austria was the daughter of Philip IV, King of Spain and Elizabeth of France. Maria Theresa was Queen of France as wife of King Louis XIV and mother of the Grand Dauphin, an ancestor of the last four Bourbon kings of France.-Early life:Born as Infanta María Teresa of Spain at the...
.
Biography
Elizabeth Hamilton became a member of the English court in 1661. She was described as a great beauty and became known for her judgement, charm and sensibility, and she was seen as witty and careful with her words as she, reportedly, said no more than she thought. She also loved practical jokes and mischief. On one occasion, she played a practical joke on two British maids of honors, lady Muskerry and miss Blague. She was much courted, by among others the Duke of York, the Duke of Richmond and the Heir of Norfolk, but she reportedly rejected them all.She married in London Philibert, Count de Grammont, a French exile at the English court. "La belle Hamilton" was one of the great beauties of the English court, and was, according to her brother's optimistic account, able to fix the count's affections. Grammont had courted her for some time and it was understood that they would be married. When Grammont where given permission to return to France, however, he left in a haste, giving the impression that he would not honor his intention to marry Hamilton. Her brothers therefore stopped him on his way and pressured him to return and marry her
She followed her spouse to France in 1669, where she was made Dame du Palais to the French queen. She was a woman of considerable wit, and held her own at the court of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, but her husband pursued his gallant exploits to the close of a long life, being, said Ninon de l'Enclos
Ninon de l'Enclos
Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos also spelled Ninon de Lenclos and Ninon de Lanclos was a French author, courtesan and patron of the arts.-Early life:...
, the only old man who could affect the follies of youth without being ridiculous. She was pointed out as a client to La Voisin, and was thereby incriminated in the affaire des poisons
Poison affair
The Affair of the Poisons was a major murder scandal in France which took place in 1677–1682, during the reign of King Louis XIV. During it, a number of prominent members of the aristocracy were implicated and sentenced on charges of poisoning and witchcraft...
in 1679. In 1696, her spouse was afflicted with a grave illness, and after he recovered, he turned to a religious life, in which she followed him. she died one year after being widowed.
Family
Her father was Sir George Hamilton, and her mother was Mary Butler, (sister of James Butler, 1st Duke of OrmondeJames Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
). She married Philibert, Count de Grammont, a French nobleman, in 1664; they had children:
- Claude Charlotte de Gramont, who married Henry Stafford-Howard, 1st Earl of Stafford,
- Marie Elizabeth de Gramont (born 27 December 1667)
External links
- "Portrait of Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess de Gramont (?-1708) europeana
- "Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess de Gramont", by James MacardellJames MacArdellJames MacArdell was an Irish engraver of mezzotints.-Life:He was born in Cow Lane , Dublin, around 1729. He learnt mezzotint-engraving from John Brooks. When Brooks moved to London about 1746, MacArdell and other pupils followed. He opened a print shop at the Golden Head in Covent Garden, where in...
, after Sir Peter Lely, National Portrait Gallery - "Elizabeth Hamilton, Comtesse de Gramont" (1641-1708)