Maria Consuelo Iznaga Clemens
Encyclopedia
Doña María Consuelo Iznaga y Clement, Duchess of Manchester (1858 — 1909) was a Cuban-American woman who married the then-Viscount Mandeville and later became known as the Duchess of Manchester. Her life story was fictionalized in her friend and writer Edith Wharton
's The Buccaneers
.
in 1858, the third child of Antonio Iznaga y del Valle and Ellen Clement y Little . Her father hailed from an old and wealthy Cuban family that owned sugar mills and had connections to several Spanish aristocratic houses. Her mother grew up at Ravenswood.
In her teenage years, she became known on the New York social scene as one of a group called the "Bouncers", where she met the Viscount Mandeville
. The couple was married at Grace Church, New York
in 1876, then settled on an estate in Ireland. The couple had three children, a son William
, who succeeded his father as duke, and twin daughters who died of consumption after their father's death in 1892.
Lady Mandeville was friends from childhood with Alva Belmont
, who named her daughter, Consuelo Vanderbilt
, in her friend's honor.
Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester, was a renowned beauty, as were her sisters Emily Iznaga Clement and Natividad ( Natica) Iznaga Clement - Lady Lister-Kaye, wife of Sir John Pepys Lister-Kaye, 3rd Baronet. She had great wealth and was a celebrated society figure, belonging to the intimate circle of Edward VII of the United Kingdom
(formerly Prince of Wales). A moderately competent practitioner of palmistry, she correctly predicted the sinking of HMS Victoria (1887)
, a disaster which occurred on 22 June 1893.
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton , was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer.- Early life and marriage:...
's The Buccaneers
The Buccaneers
The Buccaneers is the last novel written by Edith Wharton. It was unfinished at the time of her death in 1937, and published in that form in 1938. Wharton's manuscript ends with Lizzy inviting Nan to a house party to which Guy Thwarte has been invited too...
.
Biography
Maria Consuelo Iznaga Clement was born on the Ravenswood plantation in Concordia Parish, LouisianaConcordia Parish, Louisiana
Concordia Parish borders the Mississippi River in eastern Louisiana. The parish seat is Vidalia. As of 2000, the population was 20,247. It is part of the Natchez, MS–LA Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Prehistory:...
in 1858, the third child of Antonio Iznaga y del Valle and Ellen Clement y Little . Her father hailed from an old and wealthy Cuban family that owned sugar mills and had connections to several Spanish aristocratic houses. Her mother grew up at Ravenswood.
In her teenage years, she became known on the New York social scene as one of a group called the "Bouncers", where she met the Viscount Mandeville
George Montagu, 8th Duke of Manchester
George Victor Drogo Montagu, 8th Duke of Manchester, etc. , known as Lord Kimbolton from 1853 to 1855 and as Viscount Mandeville from 1855 to 1890, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.-Biography:George Montagu was the son of William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester, and...
. The couple was married at Grace Church, New York
Grace Church, New York
Grace Church is a historic parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, located at 800 and 804 Broadway at the corner of East 10th Street, where Broadway bends to the north, with Grace Church School and the church houses – which are now used by the school – behind it at 86-98...
in 1876, then settled on an estate in Ireland. The couple had three children, a son William
William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester
William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester , styled Lord Kimbolton from 1877 to 1890 and Viscount Mandeville from 1890 to 1892, was a British peer and Liberal politician. He served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1905 to 1907 under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman...
, who succeeded his father as duke, and twin daughters who died of consumption after their father's death in 1892.
Lady Mandeville was friends from childhood with Alva Belmont
Alva Belmont
Alva Erskine Belmont , née Alva Erskine Smith, also called Alva Vanderbilt from 1875 to 1896, was a prominent multi-millionaire American socialite and a major figure in the women's suffrage movement...
, who named her daughter, Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Balsan , was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family...
, in her friend's honor.
Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester, was a renowned beauty, as were her sisters Emily Iznaga Clement and Natividad ( Natica) Iznaga Clement - Lady Lister-Kaye, wife of Sir John Pepys Lister-Kaye, 3rd Baronet. She had great wealth and was a celebrated society figure, belonging to the intimate circle of Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
(formerly Prince of Wales). A moderately competent practitioner of palmistry, she correctly predicted the sinking of HMS Victoria (1887)
HMS Victoria (1887)
HMS Victoria was the lead ship in her class of two battleships of the Royal Navy. On 22 June 1893, she collided with near Tripoli, Lebanon during manoeuvres and quickly sank, taking 358 crew with her, including the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon...
, a disaster which occurred on 22 June 1893.