Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster
Encyclopedia
Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster (6 October 1731 – 27 March 1814), known before 1747 as Lady Emily Lennox, from 1747 to 1761 as The Countess of Kildare and from 1761 to 1766 as The Marchioness of Kildare, was the second of the famous Lennox sisters
, daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
, and illegitimately descended from King Charles II of England
.
on 7 February 1747, at age fifteen, she married the immensely wealthy James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare
, and went to live in Ireland.
The marriage was a happy one, despite Lord Kildare's constant infidelities. The couple had nineteen children:
Lord Kildare was created successively Marquess of Kildare
and Duke of Leinster
in recognition of his contribution to the political life of his country. It was partly the Duke's influence that led to a rift between the Duchess and her eldest sister, Caroline Fox, 1st Baroness Holland.
, with whom she had begun an affair some years earlier in Frescati House
. Despite her remarriage she continued to be known as The Dowager Duchess of Leinster. Ogilvie was nine years her junior, and was the natural father of her youngest son from her first marriage. A further three children were born to them after their marriage:
Several of the Duchess's children predeceased her. One of her sons, Lord Edward FitzGerald
, was a major figure in the republican movement, and was killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1798
.
miniseries based on the lives of Emily Lennox and her sisters aired in the U.K. It was called Aristocrats
.
Lennox Sisters
The Lennox sisters were the daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond in the Peerage of England and 2nd Duke of Lennox in the Peerage of Scotland, and Lady Sarah Cadogan , daughter of William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan.-Ancestry:...
, daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
The 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...
, and illegitimately descended from King Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
.
Early life
In LondonLondon
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...
on 7 February 1747, at age fifteen, she married the immensely wealthy James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare
James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster
Lieutenant-General James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster, etc. PC , styled Lord Offaly until 1744 and known as The Earl of Kildare between 1744 and 1761 and as The Marquess of Kildare between 1761 and 1766, was an Irish nobleman, soldier and politician.-Background:Leinster was the son of Robert...
, and went to live in Ireland.
The marriage was a happy one, despite Lord Kildare's constant infidelities. The couple had nineteen children:
- George FitzGerald, Earl of Offaly (15 January 1748 - Richmond House, 26 September 1765)
- William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of LeinsterWilliam FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of LeinsterWilliam Robert FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster, etc. KP, PC was an Irish liberal politician and landowner. He was born in London.-Career:...
(b. Arlington Place, Piccadilly, LondonLondonLondon 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...
, 12 March 1749 - d. Carton House, Kildare, 20 October 1804). - Lady Caroline FitzGerald (1750–1754).
- Lady Emily Mary FitzGerald (1752–1818), married Charles Coote, Baron Coote of Coolony and Earl of Bellamont. The couple had five children, one son who died young (b1776) and four daughters. Emily died in Penzance, Cornwall in 1818 after a lingering illness.
- Lady Henrietta FitzGerald (1753–1763).
- Lady Caroline FitzGerald (b. and d. 1755).
- Charles FitzGerald, 1st Baron LecaleCharles FitzGerald, 1st Baron LecaleRear-Admiral Charles James FitzGerald, 1st Baron Lecale PC , styled Lord Charles FitzGerald between 1761 and 1800, was an Irish naval commander and politician.-Background:...
(30 June 1756 - 30 June 1810). - Lady Charlotte Mary Gertrude FitzGeraldCharlotte Strutt, 1st Baroness RayleighCharlotte Mary Gertrude Strutt, 1st Baroness Rayleigh , known as Lady Charlotte FitzGerald from 1758 to 1789 and as Lady Charlotte Strutt from 1789 to 1821, was a British peeress....
(1758–1836), married Joseph StruttJoseph Strutt (MP)Joseph Holden Strutt , was a British soldier and long-standing Member of Parliament.Strutt was the member of a family that had made their fortune from its milling business in Maldon and Chelmsford in Essex and which had acquired the estate of Terling Place in Terling, Essex...
and was made first Baroness Rayleigh. Had issue. - Lady Louisa Bridget FitzGerald (1760–1765).
- Lord Henry FitzGeraldLord Henry FitzGeraldLord Henry FitzGerald PC was the fourth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster . A younger brother was the revolutionary Lord Edward FitzGerald.-Life:...
(30 July 1761 - 8 July 1829), general; married Charlotte Boyle and had issue, who take by inheritance the surname "de Ros". - Lady Sophia Sarah Mary FitzGerald (1762 – 21 March 1845)
- Lord Edward FitzGeraldLord Edward FitzGeraldLord Edward FitzGerald was an Irish aristocrat and revolutionary. He was the fifth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster , he was born at Carton House, near Dublin, and died of wounds received in resisting arrest on charge of treason.-Early years:FitzGerald spent most of his...
(1763–1798). - Lord Robert Stephen FitzGerald (1765 - 2 January 1833), a diplomat; married Sophia Charlotte Fielding and had issue.
- Lord Gerald FitzGerald (1766–1788). Drowned, went down with the ship in which he was serving.
- Lord Augustus FitzGerald (1767–1771).
- Lady Fanny FitzGerald (1770–1775).
- Lady Lucy Anne FitzGerald (1771 – 1851), who took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. She was married to Admiral Thomas Foley, who served with distinction under Lord Nelson. They had no issue.
- Lady Louisa FitzGerald (1772–1776).
- Lord George Simon FitzGerald (1773–1783). Recognized as son of Lord Kildare, but in fact was the biological son of his brother's tutor, William Ogilvie.
Lord Kildare was created successively Marquess of Kildare
Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster is a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The title refers to Leinster, but unlike the province the title is pronounced "Lin-ster"...
and Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster is a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The title refers to Leinster, but unlike the province the title is pronounced "Lin-ster"...
in recognition of his contribution to the political life of his country. It was partly the Duke's influence that led to a rift between the Duchess and her eldest sister, Caroline Fox, 1st Baroness Holland.
Later life
After the death of Lord Kildare in 1773, the Duchess caused a minor sensation by marrying her children's tutor, William OgilvieWilliam Ogilvie (Ardglass)
William Ogilvie was a Scottish-born scholar and tutor of Lord Edward FitzGerald, and married Edward's mother Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster after the death of her first husband. Ogilvie was nine years her junior, and was the natural father of her youngest son from her first marriage. A...
, with whom she had begun an affair some years earlier in Frescati House
Frescati House
Frescati was an estate situated in Blackrock, Dublin, between the mountains and the sea. During the eighteenth century, Blackrock found favour with the well-to-do of Ireland and it grew into a fashionable seaside resort. The gentry of smog-ridden Dublin advanced into the area to embrace the sea air...
. Despite her remarriage she continued to be known as The Dowager Duchess of Leinster. Ogilvie was nine years her junior, and was the natural father of her youngest son from her first marriage. A further three children were born to them after their marriage:
- Cecilia Margaret Ogilvie (1775–1824), married Charles LockCharles LockCharles Lock was the British consul-general in Naples during the Neapolitan Revolution of 1799.-Family:Charles Lock was born in 1770 into a rich, though illegitimate family. He was the second son of William Lock, who purchased the Norbury Park estate in Mickleham, Surrey in 1774 and commissioned...
, British consul-general in Naples and Egypt. They had three daughters. - Charlotte Ogilvie (b. and d. 1777).
- Emily Charlotte "Mimie" Ogilvie (b. 1778 - d. 1832), married Charles George Beauclerk, great-grandson of the Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St AlbansCharles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St AlbansCharles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, KG was an illegitimate son of King Charles II of England by his mistress Nell Gwynne.-Life:...
and had issue.
Several of the Duchess's children predeceased her. One of her sons, Lord Edward FitzGerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald was an Irish aristocrat and revolutionary. He was the fifth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster , he was born at Carton House, near Dublin, and died of wounds received in resisting arrest on charge of treason.-Early years:FitzGerald spent most of his...
, was a major figure in the republican movement, and was killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
.
Popular culture
In 1999, a six-part BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
miniseries based on the lives of Emily Lennox and her sisters aired in the U.K. It was called Aristocrats
Aristocrats (TV mini-series)
Aristocrats is a 1999 Television series, based on the biography by Stella Tillyard. The series consists of six episodes of 50 minutes each and was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC, starting on 22 June 1999...
.