She was born in 1769 (O.S.). Her father was Joseph Denison, owner of the Denbies estate in Surrey,[3] who had made a fortune in banking. Her mother was Elizabeth Butler.
Despite her beauty, she was considered vulgar, shrewd, greedy, and unsuited to aristocratic society on account of her common background; however, she attracted lovers and admirers, including the Russian Grand Duke, the future Nicholas I.[4]
Royal mistress
Elizabeth, Countess Conyngham
The Conynghams were not well-connected, but according to the Duke of Wellington, Elizabeth decided as early as 1806 to become a mistress of the Prince of Wales, the future King George IV. She probably became his lover in 1819, when he was prince regent, but finally supplanted her predecessor, Isabella Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford, after he became king in 1820. He became besotted with her, constantly "kissing her hand with a look of most devoted submission." While his wife Caroline of Brunswick was on trial in 1820 as part of efforts to divorce her, the king could not be seen with Lady Conyngham and was consequently "bored and lonely." During his coronation, George was constantly seen "nodding and winking" at her.[5]
Lady Conyngham's liaison with the king benefited her family. Her husband was raised to the rank of a marquess in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and sworn to the Privy Council, in the coronation honours of 1821. He was also given several other offices, including Lord Steward of the Household and the lieutenancy of Windsor Castle. Her second son was made Master of the Robes and First Groom of the Chamber.[6]
Lady Conyngham had Whiggish sympathies, but usually did not concern herself with political ambition; she concentrated rather on furthering the financial position of her family. But on one occasion, she requested that her son's tutor be made Canon of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and the prime minister, Lord Liverpool, threatened to resign over the matter. Arguments with Lady Castlereagh further worsened the relationship between the king and Lord Liverpool's government. She also disliked Benjamin Bloomfield, Keeper of the Privy Purse, and was successful in having him removed in 1822. His successor, William Knighton, was a close friend of the king who successfully cleared all his debts later in his reign. Dorothea Lieven, wife of the Russian ambassador, dismissed her with contempt as having "not an idea in her head...not a word to say for herself...nothing but a hand to accept pearls and diamonds, and an enormous balcony to wear them on."[7]
Later life and death
Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Conyngham, the Marchioness's daughter, commonly misidentified as the Marchioness herself. The portrait, painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence in the early 1820s, is in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon.
Another portrait commonly misidentified as the Marchioness, called "Lady Elizabeth Conyngham" and attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence. In fact it is a 1775 portrait of Mrs. Lowndes-Stone by Sir Thomas Gainsborough, also located in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon.
As his life progressed, the king became dependent on Lady Conyngham on account of his temper and poor health. However weary she became of his company, his affection for her never ceased. The relationship came to an end with George's sudden death in 1830; she immediately moved from Windsor Castle to Paris. Although the king had bequeathed her all his plate and jewels, she refused the entire legacy. The marquess broke his staff of office at George's funeral and was never to hold another one in the next reign. Lady Conyngham lived until 1861, dying near Canterbury at the age of 91. Although she was excluded from court during the reigns of King William IV and Queen Victoria, her son Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham, was Lord Chamberlain to William. Along with William Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury, he brought the news of William's death to Princess Victoria and was the first to address her as Your Majesty. The 2nd Marquess's daughter, Jane Churchill, was later a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and one of her closest friends.[8]
^Wilson, R. G. (2004), "Denison, Joseph (c.1726–1806)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49178, retrieved 16 April 2015(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^. Georgian Index. March 2003. Archived from the original on 16 April 2003. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
^"GEORGE IV'S ROYAL VISIT TO IRELAND". Retrieved 16 March 2012.
^Hyde, Montgomery. The Strange Death of Lord Castlereagh William Heinemann 1959 p.82
^"Lord and Lady Conyngham". 5 January 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
Sources
Smith, E. A. George IV, Yale University Press; new edition (February 1, 2001); ASIN 0300088027
Smith, E. A. A Queen on Trial
Trent, Christine (31 January 2012). By the King's Design (first ed.). Kensington. ISBN978-0758265906.
February 01, 2023
elizabeth, conyngham, marchioness, conyngham, elizabeth, conyngham, née, denison, marchioness, conyngham, march, 1770, october, 1861, english, courtier, noblewoman, last, mistress, george, united, kingdom, portrait, lady, conyngham, 1801, thomas, lawrence, bir. Elizabeth Conyngham nee Denison Marchioness Conyngham 29 March 1770 11 October 1861 1 was an English courtier and noblewoman She was the last mistress of George IV of the United Kingdom 2 Portrait of Lady Conyngham 1801 by Sir Thomas Lawrence Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Birmingham Contents 1 Early life 2 Royal mistress 3 Later life and death 4 See also 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life EditShe was born in 1769 O S Her father was Joseph Denison owner of the Denbies estate in Surrey 3 who had made a fortune in banking Her mother was Elizabeth Butler On 5 July 1794 Elizabeth married Henry Conyngham Viscount Conyngham an Irish peer They had five children together three sons and two daughters Henry Francis Conyngham Earl of Mount Charles 6 April 1795 26 December 1824 Francis Conyngham 2nd Marquess Conyngham 11 June 1797 17 July 1876 Lady Elizabeth Henrietta Conyngham died 24 August 1839 married Charles Gordon 10th Marquess of Huntly Lady Maria Harriet Conyngham 1810 died 3 December 1843 married William Somerville 1st Baron Athlumney Albert Denison 1st Baron Londesborough 21 October 1805 15 January 1860 Despite her beauty she was considered vulgar shrewd greedy and unsuited to aristocratic society on account of her common background however she attracted lovers and admirers including the Russian Grand Duke the future Nicholas I 4 Royal mistress Edit Elizabeth Countess ConynghamThe Conynghams were not well connected but according to the Duke of Wellington Elizabeth decided as early as 1806 to become a mistress of the Prince of Wales the future King George IV She probably became his lover in 1819 when he was prince regent but finally supplanted her predecessor Isabella Seymour Conway Marchioness of Hertford after he became king in 1820 He became besotted with her constantly kissing her hand with a look of most devoted submission While his wife Caroline of Brunswick was on trial in 1820 as part of efforts to divorce her the king could not be seen with Lady Conyngham and was consequently bored and lonely During his coronation George was constantly seen nodding and winking at her 5 Lady Conyngham s liaison with the king benefited her family Her husband was raised to the rank of a marquess in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and sworn to the Privy Council in the coronation honours of 1821 He was also given several other offices including Lord Steward of the Household and the lieutenancy of Windsor Castle Her second son was made Master of the Robes and First Groom of the Chamber 6 Lady Conyngham had Whiggish sympathies but usually did not concern herself with political ambition she concentrated rather on furthering the financial position of her family But on one occasion she requested that her son s tutor be made Canon of St George s Chapel Windsor and the prime minister Lord Liverpool threatened to resign over the matter Arguments with Lady Castlereagh further worsened the relationship between the king and Lord Liverpool s government She also disliked Benjamin Bloomfield Keeper of the Privy Purse and was successful in having him removed in 1822 His successor William Knighton was a close friend of the king who successfully cleared all his debts later in his reign Dorothea Lieven wife of the Russian ambassador dismissed her with contempt as having not an idea in her head not a word to say for herself nothing but a hand to accept pearls and diamonds and an enormous balcony to wear them on 7 Later life and death Edit Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Conyngham the Marchioness s daughter commonly misidentified as the Marchioness herself The portrait painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence in the early 1820s is in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian Lisbon Another portrait commonly misidentified as the Marchioness called Lady Elizabeth Conyngham and attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence In fact it is a 1775 portrait of Mrs Lowndes Stone by Sir Thomas Gainsborough also located in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian Lisbon As his life progressed the king became dependent on Lady Conyngham on account of his temper and poor health However weary she became of his company his affection for her never ceased The relationship came to an end with George s sudden death in 1830 she immediately moved from Windsor Castle to Paris Although the king had bequeathed her all his plate and jewels she refused the entire legacy The marquess broke his staff of office at George s funeral and was never to hold another one in the next reign Lady Conyngham lived until 1861 dying near Canterbury at the age of 91 Although she was excluded from court during the reigns of King William IV and Queen Victoria her son Francis Conyngham 2nd Marquess Conyngham was Lord Chamberlain to William Along with William Howley Archbishop of Canterbury he brought the news of William s death to Princess Victoria and was the first to address her as Your Majesty The 2nd Marquess s daughter Jane Churchill was later a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and one of her closest friends 8 See also EditList of English royal mistresses Hope Diamond which Lady Conyngham is alleged to have stolen after the death of King George References Edit Elizabeth Denison Conyngham FindaGrave com Retrieved 25 January 2021 K D Reynolds Conyngham Elizabeth Marchioness Conyngham 1769 1861 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Wilson R G 2004 Denison Joseph c 1726 1806 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 49178 retrieved 16 April 2015 Subscription or UK public library membership required Mistresses of the Prince Georgian Index March 2003 Archived from the original on 16 April 2003 Retrieved 16 March 2012 GEORGE IV S ROYAL VISIT TO IRELAND Retrieved 16 March 2012 Henry Morse Stephens 1887 Conyngham Henry In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 12 London Smith Elder amp Co Hyde Montgomery The Strange Death of Lord Castlereagh William Heinemann 1959 p 82 Lord and Lady Conyngham 5 January 2011 Retrieved 16 March 2012 Sources EditSmith E A George IV Yale University Press new edition February 1 2001 ASIN 0300088027Smith E A A Queen on Trial Trent Christine 31 January 2012 By the King s Design first ed Kensington ISBN 978 0758265906 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elizabeth Conyngham Marchioness Conyngham amp oldid 1134505422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
